Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Mental Health Pros Volunteer To Help Frontline Coronavirus Workers
(Jonathan Borba on Unsplash)
()
Worried about the psychological toll the pandemic is taking on doctors, nurses, paramedics and other first responders, mental health groups are spearheading an effort to get them pro bono help.
Frontline workers are “really good at handling emergencies,” said Randall Hagar, legislative advocate with the California Psychiatric Association. “And they just suck it up and do what they gotta do and it’s only later that the accumulated stress finally manifests.”
Hagar’s organization and other professional groups banded together to set up a volunteer registry that seeks to put frontline workers in contact with professionals offering pro bono mental health services. Participants are asked to provide at least two hours of care at no cost, although some are offering much more.
Support for LAist comes from
Hagar says the registry is a way of streamlining frontline workers’ access to mental health care since there hasn’t been a concerted effort from the state.
The call for volunteers has gone out to all licensed mental health professionals, from psychiatrists to counselors to social workers. Hagar says the response has been impressive; so far, about 1,500 people have volunteered.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist