Mental Health Issues on the Rise

ANC6A REPORT by Nick L. Alberti

Chair Amber Gove (6A04) convened the December 9, 2021 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A via Zoom with Commissioners Keya Chatterjee (6A01), Mike Soderman (6A03), Laura Gentile (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06), Sondra Phillips-Gilbert (6A07) and Brian Alcorn (6A08) in attendance. Commissioner Phil Toomajian (6A02) was absent.

Mental Health Issues Rise with the Pandemic

The Department of Behavior Health provides intervention and treatment services to DC residents struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. The range of services includes emergency psychiatric care and community-based outpatient and residential services. DBH has been tracking the increase in mental health disorders in DC during the Covid-19 pandemic. Overall, residents are utilizing telehealth services at an increased rate. However use within the community of those with a substance use problems is down because this group typically lacks access to the internet. Mayor Bowser has included in her budget funds to purchase 4,000 computers to set up as telehealth portals to combat this disparity.

DBH also o ers services in DC public schools and in the DC jail, has been working with MPD to train of cers in de-escalation techniques when responding to mental health intervention calls as well as working to expand the range of behavioral health services eligible for Medicaid reimbursement as part of the Behavioral Health Transformation and Integration Plan started in 2020.

To access services provided by DBH, residents can call the 24-hour Access Helpline at 1-888-793-4357 or by visiting a DC-operated same day urgent care or substance use referral clinic or walk in to a certi ed community-based clinic. A full catalogue of the Department of Behavioral Health’s services and resources including a list of clinics can be found at dbh.dc.gov.

Other Business

• The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter to DC Councilmembers and the Committee of the Whole reiterating ANC 6A’s December 2, 2021 recommendations for a redistricting map to keep all of ANC 6A within Ward 6, in light of the Committee of the Whole’s recommended map.

Community Outreach Committee

• The Commissioners unanimously approved a grant in the amount of $3,000 to Christ City Church to provide 150 $20 gift certi cates for families who live in ANC 6A to secure food for the holiday season. • The Commissioners unanimously approved the 2021 draft of the revised ANC 6A Bylaws and the newly developed Standard Operating Procedures and Codes of Conduct. The Community Outreach Committee meets at 7:00 pm on the fourth Monday of each month.

Economic Development and Zoning

• The Commissioners voted, unanimously, to send a letter of support to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) for the proposed construction of a two-story accessory building at the rear of the property that will not increase the number of dwelling units at 820 Constitution Avenue, NE (HPRB

Case #22-036).