Experts at Burrell said it was no secret that access to mental health care was lacking, not just across the Ozarks, but also across the nation. That’s why the staff adopted the idea that access was just a concept, not a set time and place. Doctor Adam Andreassen explained there are too many variables that can get in people’s way of coming in for an appointment, like transportation, gas money, and work schedules.
Doctor Andreassen talked about how the skype-like service has helped cut down wait times, saying people actually prefer the screen barrier. “One of the reasons I think people might prefer on-screen to in person is that it can feel very threatening to talk to a therapist, to talk to a psychiatrist,” he began. “Some individuals, that’s what keeps them from coming in, is just the fear of the inter-personal encounter.”
