Treating the Invisible Symptoms of a Bleeding Disorder
Treating the Invisible Symptoms of a Bleeding Disorder
The Importance of Mental Health Services Provided by your Hemophilia Treatment Center.
Written by Lissa Blanchard, NEHA Mental Health Coordinator.
Posted: September 11, 2024. This article was originally shared in our Summer 2024 Newsletter.
In New England, there are eleven Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) spread across our region, with at least one in each state. HTCs are specialized care centers that bring together a team of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to care for people with hemophilia.
HTCs can have a variety of experts to address your physical health and bleeding disorder specific needs, including hematologists, dentists, nurses, physical therapists, pediatricians and more. It is also important to remember that HTCs have professionals, like psychologists and social workers, who are trained to treat the emotional and mental health needs of patients with bleeding disorders.
All of these professionals come together to play an important role in overseeing the overall health of patients with bleeding disorders. They come together, like pieces of a puzzle, to improve the care and wellbeing of their patients.
Below are some suggestions to help you take advantage of the mental health care services that are provided through your HTC.
How can your HTC Mental Health professional/Social Worker help you or your family?
- They can relieve anxiety by answering questions regarding insurance, copay assistance, and other patient assistance programs
- Provide counseling, mental health support and referrals
- Connect patients to resources and assess barriers to patient care
- Provide referrals to community agencies, substance use resources, transportation resources, financial resources as needed
- Provide education regarding your bleeding disorder and impact on mental health
How can you prepare for your meeting with your Mental Health professional?
- Arrive with a list of questions, worries, and concerns you have
- Be open and vulnerable with the concerns you are experiencing so that the treatment team may assist you
- Know that YOU have the ability to make many mental health related referrals; use the steps below to help guide you
What steps can you take for accessing a Mental Health Referral?
- Know what agencies make referrals/provide counseling services:
- Primary Care Physicians (PCP) often have a Social worker/ Mental Health provider who can help with referrals or have a list of local providers
- School Social Workers
- Insurance Provider: If you have insurance call your insurance provider to ask what is covered and if they have a list of providers they can send you
- Folks without insurance should inquire about sliding scale rates for any Mental Health Professional
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) contact your HR department for more information (mostly short- term counseling)
- Consider virtual therapy options
- Know the terminology for what services you may need:
- Psychotherapy and counseling – can be referred to as “Talk therapy” providers include Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Psychologist Outpatient Therapists (OPT’s), Schools often have in house counselors that provide this level of support
- Psychiatrists or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – a medical doctor who can diagnose and prescribe medication to treat mental health disorders
- Addiction treatment/support – This type of treatment has many levels of care including outpatient, hospitalization, and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP’s), as well as step down services. It often includes a combination of psychotherapy as well as medications, or a combination
- Co-occurring medical and behavioral health conditions – This refers to individuals who have a dual diagnosis indicating coexisting addiction and another mental health related disorder such as anxiety or depression
- Group vs. Individual counseling – Do you have a preference? Sometimes for children/ adolescents group work is often suggested for healthy relationship building
Large Organizations / Resources That Can Help With Accessing Mental Health Services
- American Psychiatric Association Foundation: They provide a search tool for finding psychiatrists and Outpatient Therapists (OPT’s)
- The Trevor Project: This nonprofit provides support to LGBTQ+ young people. You can call, chat or text with a crisis counselor 24/7 for anyone struggling with LGBTQ related concerns that include identity, depression or suicide
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: This nonprofit provides resources on mental disorders that are helpful for people who have experienced mental illness and their families, including support groups, education and training
NEHA's Mental Health Resources
We created an online resource hub to help meet the mental health needs of our community. This webpage is choked full of mental health resources, recorded sessions and webinars, interactive toolkits and more.