HILLSIDE–The Proviso Township Mental Health Commission (PTMHC) has forged an arrangement with   GermsAwayPlus.com, a health friendly company, to provide thousands of individual hand sanitizer packets to its many mental health agencies. Workers at the commission assembled and distributed safety kits today to several health agencies that are funded through the PTMHC. The kits included hand sanitizer, face masks, gloves, and cleaning wipes.

 “Now that many therapists are resuming one-on-one sessions with patients, we thought we would do our part to help prevent the spread of the contagion and these convenient hand sanitizing packets are one way we can do that,” said PTMHC Board President Mike Corrigan. “Science has shown us that keeping hands clean is an important way to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

While the PTMHC has provided personal protective equipment over the course of the pandemic, the sanitizer packets are another way to promote strong coronavirus safety protocols especially as mental health professionals resume in-person consultation.

Telehealth sessions have become normal during the pandemic but for some patients, face-to-face meetings with mental health providers are beneficial. Therapists need the tools to keep themselves and their clients safe during meetings and hand sanitizer is a useful tool in fighting COVID-19. The small packets of sanitizer make them convenient and easy to share.

The packages, which resemble individual condiment packets, will offer an immediate, option for therapists and their patients. Therapists can keep them readily available in their pockets or purses and use them as needed as well as offer them to patients.

The PTMHC received several thousand of the hand sanitizing packets at reduced prices from the GermsAwayPlus.com company.

“We are happy that GermsAwayPlus.com is willing to help us promote health and safety in this COVID-19 environment,” said Corrigan.

Throughout the pandemic, the PTMHC has provided support for a variety of organizations and health care providers by procuring and distributing personal protective equipment like facemasks, cleaning products and sanitizers, and small one-time grants. The agency also raised nearly $15,000 in a campaign to provide meals to front line hospital workers during the pandemic.

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