Regional health services provider Valley Health Systems Inc., has received accreditation from the American Psychological Association, which officials there say will improve mental health outcomes of patients and career outcomes throughout Appalachia.
Improving regional mental health outcomes
Caring for mental health concerns is an important part of a person’s overall well-being, said Dr. Rebecca Denning, director of training of Valley Health.
“If we’re talking about outpatient mental health concerns,†Denning said,â€[the region has] such high rates of depression, anxiety and substance abuse, and those things get interconnected and then they also impact our health behaviors and our long-term health. In order to improve the health of our communities, we really need to be tending to this part of people’s health.â€
Valley Health Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health is shown on Jan. 24, 2023, at the Pea Ridge Shopping Center in Huntington.
Sholten Singer | The Herald-Dispatch
Valley Health has provided primary care in West Virginia since 1975 and now operates more than 50 health care centers and public health programs in southwestern West Virginia and southern Ohio. They have more than 190 providers and 931 staff members offering a variety of services, including dentistry, gastroenterology and optometry. According to officials, Valley Health delivers primary care services to more than 125,000 patients annually.
It’s funded through a variety of grants and offers a sliding fee scale and travel assistance, meaning care is accessible for low-earning, homeless and disabled Appalachians as well.
Denning said that part of improving the community’s mental health is growing local talent and retaining those people who come to the mountain state to train at local universities. She said accreditation for the APA will cement the internship’s credibility and will attract talent to the Mountain State.
“Frankly, some doctoral programs require this accreditation,†she explained. “That’s why it’s a big deal. These internships are required for doctoral students to finish their degree.â€
Creating ‘a landing place’
Denning grew up in West Virginia, attended Marshall University to learn about the needs of her community, and was forced to leave to complete her education.
Dr. Rebecca Denning, a clinical psychologist, speaks with a woman in a Valley Health waiting room in July 2024.
Courtesy photo | Valley Health
“I interned at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus because those internships weren’t available here,†she said. “To recruit and retain licensed psychologists, they need that landing place to already exist [here],†Denning added.
That’s why she is serious about her work managing interns at Valley Health and pioneered the effort toward accreditation.
Keeping quality care in accessible settings such as Valley Health is important for the health of the region, said Mathew Weimer, M.D., Valley Health’s interim CEO.
“The demand for behavioral health care is very, very high, and it has increased in recent years... With that being said, I think a training program like a doctoral internship for a psychologist is important for a region like ours because training people who are from the region or who developed roots in this region through training programs increases the likelihood that we will retain these individuals in our workforce and they will provide access to care,†Weimer said.
Sierra Marling covers health and education for the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Gazette-Mail. Contact her at 502-783-6738 or smarling@hdmediallc.com.
