>>Carilon Clinic in Roanoke Overwhelmed with More Than 1,200 People on a Wait List for Services
(Roanoke, VA) -- A clinic in Roanoke faces growing demand for mental health services with over 12 hundred people on a waiting list to be seen. Richard Stelling with the details.Preview: Voicer Script:
Dr. Robert Trestman with the Carilion Clinic in Roanoke notes a significant increase in mental health needs, with 1,000 adults and 200-250 children on the outpatient care waiting list. He says the elderly are especially sensitive due to loneliness and social isolation. WSLS reports the clinic also reports seeing a rise in school-related issues like bullying and peer pressure, with triple the number of middle school students reporting suicidal thoughts. Trestman advises parents to monitor social media use and create a safe space for kids to talk, acknowledging the challenges of accessing timely appointments for mental health care.