May 15, 2020 | From City of New Orleans
MAYOR CANTRELL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH LSU ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES
NEW ORLEANS — Today, Mayor Cantrell announced an important collaboration between Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center Department of Psychiatry and the Mayor’s Office, the New Orleans Health Department (NOHD), and New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP).
This initiative will provide supportive services for all City employees and their families, including public safety departments such as the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), the Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
"We need to look at mental health the same way we look at physical health in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. So we know that one of the most vital services we can provide during this time is mental health services,” said Mayor Cantrell. "I want to thank LSU for being such a valuable partner in helping us stand up these services for our City staff working on the front lines."
Faculty from the LSU Department of Psychiatry will provide virtual and no-cost confidential services and clinical care when requested. An initial consultation will be provided; up to three additional individual and/or family services will be included. Additional clinical services may be provided on request through the LSU Health Care Network Behavioral Sciences Center, also at no cost. Faculty members have experience in strength-based services, counseling, general psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and family therapy.
Services will begin on May 15, 2020, and will be provided seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Employees can request services by calling the LSU Office at (504) 228-6196.
"I am very pleased that the Department of Psychiatry at LSU Health Sciences Center will be working together with the Mayor’s Office and the Health Department to provide needed services for our courageous first-responders, City employees and their families at this difficult time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr. Howard J. Osofsky, Professor and Chair of the LSU Department of Psychiatry. "Our faculty are all very committed to providing the no cost strength-based supportive and clinical services."
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