- Well, one move theadministration has made

is loosening restrictions on telemedicine,

including visits withmental health professionals.

As Heather Sellsexplains, that's good news

for Americans who needhelp fighting feelings

of anxiety and isolation.

- [Heather] There's not a single American

who can escape the impact of COVID-19.

The result ranges frommanaging fear and isolation

to potentially dealing with the illness

and death associated with it.

This all affects our mental health

says counselor and assistantRegent professor Danny Holland.

- One of the things we know

is that predictabilityand control are anchors

that people have in order to feel a sense

of wellness and routine to their lives.

Those things have beendramatically impacted

for almost everybody.

You know, so there's aloss of that control,

a loss of that abilityto look at their life

and, you know, know whereit's gonna happen next.

- [Heather] This can be tough for those

with relatively good mental health,

and brutal for those already struggling.

The good news: governmentand professional associations

have relaxed restrictions to boost access

to online counseling.

The Trump administration isexpanding telehealth services

for Medicare, and that includesproviders like therapists.

Holland is taking advantage of this move

and says while it can be difficult,

the benefits outweighthe challenges for most.

- People have a very similar experience

even though it can bea little more difficult

to get started and get used to,

but with the access increased,

people can actuallysit in the environments

that they're having someof the struggles in,

and they can work throughsome of the strong feelings,

the thoughts, and the painsthat they have right there

and be able to have thecounselor come right in,

into that environmentwith them and assist them.

- [Heather] In some regions,

groups are making online counseling

free to the public during the pandemic,

and for college studentsdisplaced from their campuses,

free online counseling from their schools

is often a great resource.

It's a sudden shift and asset

for the mental health communitythat's likely here to stay,

even when COVID-19 isno longer top of mind.

Heather Sells, CBN.