CareSource, a nonprofit organization, has unveiled a new mobile mental health unit that will travel across Georgia. The unit is designed to provide mental health services specifically for new and expecting mothers.
Joanne Patterson, founder of Nurse Practitioners on Wheels, introduced the new clinic, which includes features such as aromatherapy, calming music, and a clean, inviting environment. Patterson emphasized her goal of making mental health care more approachable and comfortable.
“Mental health care doesn’t have to be intimidating,” Patterson said. “I aim to offer cozy and comprehensive care that addresses not just the illness but the whole person.”
Mental Health America of Georgia reports that one in seven mothers in the state experience perinatal mood disorders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta found that 80% of maternal deaths in Georgia are preventable, with mental health disorders contributing to 23% of these deaths.
Patterson, who specializes in maternal and pediatric mental health, will focus on individuals aged 6 to 55. She noted the scarcity of providers in these areas and highlighted the importance of addressing perinatal mood disorders, which include postpartum depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The mobile clinic is part of CareSource’s Wellness on Wheels (WOW) network. It will offer care through a psychiatric nurse practitioner and begin operations this month in regions with limited mental health services.
“About one-third of Georgians experience mental health issues like anxiety or depression,” said Dr. Minh Nguyen, medical director for CareSource Georgia. “However, nearly five million people in our state live in areas where mental health care is insufficient to meet their needs.”
