Legacy Teams with APTANJ to Provide Mental Health Services

Legacy Treatment Services is partnering with the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey (APTANJ) to provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment services to physical therapy professionals in New Jersey who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This first-of-its-kind program in New Jersey will also provide support group services through Legacy's experienced healthcare counselors to PTs, PTAs and students experiencing effects from Long-COVID.

"Legacy Treatment Services is proud to assist our healthcare peers and partners in addressing their behavioral health needs," said Legacy CEO Roy Leitstein. "Since the early emergency of the pandemic, frontline workers across a myriad of industries have been faced with experiencing trauma on a scale of which has not been witnessed in the modern era.

"APTANJ and their membership have stoically addressed their patients throughout this crisis and our partnership aims to help physical therapy professionals impacted by Long Haul COVID or vicarious trauma through education, development of policy and practice, and direct access to immediate behavioral healthcare services."

"Often times, physical therapy professionals (and many other healthcare providers) forgo their own physical and mental health and well-being to care for and treat their patients," said APTANJ President Megan Gardner. "By partnering with Legacy, we are providing important resources for our members who not only may be suffering from the effects of long-COVID, but also providing important services to members emotionally impacted by what they experienced during this pandemic."

Legacy and APTANJ will also work together to advocate for combined mental and physical health services in New Jersey. Mental and physical services are often considered separate issues, even though in many patient cases both go hand-in-hand. The two groups will strive to influence decision makers and stakeholders to combine mental/physical health services in support of patients in New Jersey.

Legacy's mental health experts will conduct a presentation for APTANJ members on mental health and stress management, entitled "The New Normal: Continuing to Work during COVID" on Thursday, October 5th at 7:oo pm. The presentation will coincide with the kickoff of National Physical Therapy Month and explain the ways anxiety can manifest in the workplace during COVID and methods to combat it. The presentation will also detail the impact of trauma and provide tools and resources to improve one's mental health.