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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals across the nation faced barriers that kept them from accessing the mental health care they required. Now, more than a year of economic, physical, emotional, and psychological struggles later, an increasing number of people are actively searching for some form of therapy or counseling.
In particular, research by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that the number of individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression has increased by two to four times since the pandemic began. While the growing recognition of the need for therapy is positive, finding an affordable therapist has become even harder.
However, there is some hope, as mental health support is gradually becoming more accessible. For instance, CVS Pharmacy is now offering mental health counseling at certain retail locations. Here's what you need to know about the program and how you can benefit from it.
How to Access Mental Health Counseling at CVS
In January 2021, the national pharmacy chain launched its mental health pilot initiative in a dozen locations in Houston, Philadelphia, and Tampa, with plans to expand across the country over the course of the year, as reported by NPR.
Walmart introduced a similar initiative in 2018 and currently operates mental health clinics in 20 locations nationwide. At present, CVS's mental health services are available only in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas, though the program will continue to grow.
The cost of CVS's counseling services remains unclear, with the exception of Aetna insurance holders (owned by CVS), who will receive the service for free. According to NPR, CVS has also reached agreements with other insurance providers to lower the price of therapy. However, the exact cost for uninsured individuals is still unknown.
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