APTANJ Teams Up with Legacy Treatment Services to Provide Mental Health Services

The American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey (APTANJ) is partnering with Legacy Treatment Services (LGS) 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.

Roy Leitstein, CEO, Legacy Treatment Services

“Legacy Treatment Services is proud to assist our healthcare peers and partners in addressing their behavioral health needs.  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.”

Megan Gardner, President, American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey

“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. 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.”

APTANJ and Legacy 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 foremost 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 Tuesday, October 5^th at 7:00 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. Visit www.aptanj.org for more details and registration.

If you are experiencing effects from long-covid and would like to participate in this PT support group, please email us at info@aptanj.org.

If you would like to speak directly and privately with a Legacy healthcare professional about your stress and/or mental health situation, please contact 609-500-1783.  This number operates 24/7 and is answered by a licensed clinician at all times and is specifically available to APTANJ.