Chesapeake mental health partnership helps uninsured and underinsured in Hampton Roads get help
Dr. Juan Montero has helped improve access to health care for people throughout the world for decades.
“Now, the entire Hampton Roads region can be at ease to know that help is here,” Montero said.
The nonprofit Chesapeake Care Clinic, founded by Montero, and the internationally renowned Montero Medical Missions recently entered into a collaboration with United Community Solutions, a Chesapeake-based behavioral and mental health care provider.
The partnership will help the general population with mental health challenges, address mental health disparities and improve access to care in underserved communities. The Chesapeake clinic accepts all Hampton Roads residents without health insurance or who are underinsured with income up to 300% of the federal poverty level. United Community Solutions offers counseling and behavioral health services, including emergency care.
Kimberly Jackson, CEO of United Community Solutions, said she was introduced to Montero and joined his board of advisers before the collaboration ensued.
“He wanted to offer something where no one has to be turned away for mental health treatment,” she said, noting Montero Medical Missions will assure the financial need is met. “This will bridge that gap that hinders different populations of people from receiving help.”
The initiative started on April 1 with the telephone emergency number: 988.
Patients will meet with mental health care providers at United Community Solutions or be referred to the Chesapeake Care Clinic depending on their needs, Jackson said.
Montero said the stigma around mental health care — throughout the country and world — is what’s keeping it neglected.
“This collaboration is great because no one is left behind,” he said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin remarked in a video about the partnership and the immensity of the need.
“Feelings of loneliness, depression, suicidal thoughts and anxiety are more common today than ever across all age ranges, across all income levels and in communities throughout the commonwealth,” he said.
Montero Medical Missions has nine international sustainable projects, including prosthetics/orthotics, eye care, dental, hearing, feeding children, educating children, technology donation, women’s health and mental health. Domestically, Montero has also worked to help veterans.
Hopeful that this will be seen as a model for the state, the country and the world, Montero said he is in “hog heaven” that he can help address mental health care needs.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com
