Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of Inova Cares Clinic for Behavioral Health

One year ago, in response to the 2022 Loudoun Community Health Needs Assessment which recognized an essential need for mental health services, Inova opened its first Inova Cares Clinic for Behavioral Health (ICCBH) to serve all community members across Northern Virginia. The Clinic facilitates mental health counseling for adults 18 years or older who are:

• Uninsured or underinsured
• Approved or eligible for Inova Financial Assistance
• Covered by Virginia Medicaid plans

This is one of the many ways that Inova gives back to our diverse communities. We offer care to those adults with mild to moderate mental health conditions who need support but are unable to pay for it.

Patients can take advantage of:

• Individual counseling services to help relieve anxiety, depression, grief, and stress
• 10-12 therapy sessions on a weekly/biweekly/time-limited basis
• Qualified credentialed professionals
• Telemedicine appointments for those who cannot meet in person
• Access to community resources and primary care

“It was the most beautiful experience working with my therapist. She helped me in every way, with all my problems. I would give her 1,000 stars!,” says a recent patient who has completed treatment with ICCBH.                                                                                                         

“I’ve definitely noticed a change in our patients’ demeanor in a positive way,” said an ICCBH team member of patient observations. “For example, one patient used to be super serious and low mood energy in the beginning when she started seeing us, and now she is in brighter colored shirts, smiles and starts up conversations with me.”

COVID-19 accelerated mental health issues

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and disrupted all our lives here in the United States and around the world, mental health care was becoming a concern. Factors included the stigma around seeking mental health care, a shortage of clinicians and an inability to make use of insurance to pay for therapy. The situation was particularly acute for younger people, underrepresented groups, and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged.

Enter the COVID-19 pandemic. Between the sickness and deaths caused by the virus, high unemployment, food insecurity, stay-at-home advisories in most states and an overwhelming feeling of being disrupted in every area of life, mental health took a turn for the worse. Now that the dust has settled, the ramifications of the pandemic with regards to mental health are becoming clearer.

Our collective mental health, especially that of young adults has worsened across the board. Mental Health America offers a snapshot of where the country stands now in 2023. The statistics speak for themselves and are nothing short of staggering:

• Across the United States, there are an estimated 350 people for each mental health provider
• Over 1 in 10 young people are battling depression that is making it hard for them to function in all aspects of their lives including school, work, home, family and socially
• Over half (54.7%) of adults with a mental illness do not get treated by a professional. This adds up to 28 million people
• Almost a third (28.2%) of all adults with a mental illness reported that they were unable to get necessary treatment
• 42% of adults with Any Mental Illness (AMI) reported that they were unable to get necessary treatment as it was unaffordable
• 10.8% (over 5.5 million) of adults affected by mental illness are uninsured
• 22.87% of adults who report having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days a month could not go to a doctor because it was too expensive for them
• 59.8% of young people who experience major bouts of depression are not treated for their mental health
• Across the United States, 1 in 10 young people who have private insurance coverage are not covered at all for any mental or emotional issues that may arise. The total number? More than 1.2 million young people
• Of the young people affected by severe depression, only 28% are treated consistently (7-25+ visits every year). The majority (57.3%) do not get any treatment at all

“If you’re starting to feel down or you’re starting to feel like it’s a struggle to get through the day, my hope is people will know about this place and they’ll come here and that’ll prevent a hospital admission,” says Karen Berube, the Chief of Community Health and Health Equity Senior Vice President, Inova Health System. “You get the care you need before it escalates to a crisis.”

Inova Cares Clinic for Behavioral Health

To get more information or schedule an appointment, call 703-779-5480.                                       

The clinic is located at:                  
211 Gibson St, NW, #220
Leesburg, VA 20176

Learn more about Inova’s comprehensive mental health and substance use care.