Clinician Shortage Puts MA In A Mental Health Crisis: Patch PM

MASSACHUSETTS — It's Wednesday, Nov. 3. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• A Maine bank robbery suspect who was involved in a Salisbury manhunt on Monday was arrested at the Homewood Suites hotel in Peabody early Wednesday morning.
• A Worcester institution will reopen this week for the first time since the pandemic-mandated shutdowns of March 2020.
• There will be new mayors in Framingham and Somerville and possible recounts in Braintree and Salem. Catch up with the biggest stories from Tuesday's municipal elections in Massachusetts.

Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Today's Top Story

As the state heads into its second holiday season of the coronavirus pandemic, record numbers of Massachusetts residents are looking for mental health services.

But, increasingly, they are finding few options for treatment as already overworked clinicians are forced to close their practices to new patients.

"I am busier than I have ever been in 25 years, and turning away more patients than I have ever needed to turn away, said Rachel Smook, a Northborough therapist who specializes in treating teenagers. "I treat a number of other therapists within my practice, and both they and my colleagues are also finding that their practices are bursting at the seams.

Nationally, the number of people seeking mental health care has been relatively flat during the pandemic. But in Massachusetts, there is increased — and unmet — demand for mental health services.

Read the full story.

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Wednesday's Other Top Stories

Manhunt ends with 'violent struggle' in Peabody: A Maine bank robbery suspect who was involved in a Salisbury manhunt on Monday was arrested at the Homewood Suites hotel in Peabody early Wednesday morning. State police said Brandon Simmons was arrested after a "violent" struggle in the lobby of the Route 1 hotel.

One suspect caught, brother still at large in Framingham: Eric Hargrett, 34, was stabbed and shot in the head early Saturday morning at a Hayes Street home during a robbery, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said during a Wednesday news conference. Aaaron Sutton, 49, was arrested by Framingham police Tuesday on charges of murder, armed robbery and illegal possession of a gun. Police were searching for his brother, Eugene Sutton, 52, who Ryan said shot Hargrett.

Famed bar reopening after pandemic closure: A Worcester institution will reopen this week for the first time since the pandemic-mandated shutdowns of March 2020. The Hotel Vernon bar overlooking Kelley Square will open at 3 p.m. Thursday, according to a social media post by owner Bob Largess. "Hold on tight! Here we go! Our doors open this Thursday Nov 4th @ 3pm. We will close every night at midnight," the Facebook post said.

Election 2021

Highlights from Patch's coverage of Tuesday's municipal elections in Massachusetts.

Somerville has first new mayor in 18 years: Voters elected Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne mayor over her colleague, Councilor At-Large Will Mbah. Ballantyne will succeed longtime mayor Joseph Curtatone, who did not run for re-election after 18 years at City Hall.

Spicer out in Framingham: Framingham elected the second mayor in city history on Tuesday with voters handing the reigns to former city councilor and selectman Charlie Sisitsky. Incumbent Mayor Yvonne Spicer conceded shortly after polls closed on Tuesday.

Recount likely in Salem: Salem voters re-elected Mayor Kim Driscoll following a spirited and occasionally contentious campaign against Ward 7 City Councilor Steve Dibble. Meanwhile, Salem is looking at its second recount for a city council race in as many years: just nine votes separated Lev McClain and Stephanie Rodriguez in Ward 4 at the end of the night. Rodriguez said she is "looking into the process" of a recount

Braintree elects Jan. 6 participant to school committee: Matt Lynch came in second in a race for three open school committee seats in Braintree. Lynch faced controversy after he said was visited twice by the FBI after attending the Jan. 6 rally in support of President Donald Trump.

Boston's next elected mayor in not white, not a man: Michelle Wu will be the next mayor of Boston, surviving a hotly contested preliminary election and dominating the general against fellow City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George to become the city's first woman and person of color elected to the office. "One of my sons asked me if boys can be elected mayor of Boston," Wu said in her victory speech. "They have been and they will be again someday, but not tonight."

Looking ahead to 2022: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has yet to commit to running for a third term in 2022. Baker has been asked the "Will you or won't you?" question in almost all of his recent public appearances, and his standard response has been the same: he's working with his family to make a decision, and voters will know when he knows.

In Case You Missed It

Kids COVID vaccine: Federal health officials have given the green light to COVID vaccinations for children ages 5-11, setting off a new, long-anticipated phase in the battle against the pandemic. Vaccinations can begin as soon as Wednesday at pharmacies across Massachusetts. You can book appointments beginning Saturday at Walgreens and Sunday at CVS.

New development in 38-year-old missing person case: Police found the car that belonged to Chelmsford teen Judy Chartier, who has not been seen since June 5, 1982. Human remains and pieces of the vehicle, a 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger, were found in the Concord River in Billerica Tuesday by the Massachusetts State Police Dive team and civilian divers, said investigators. Through a match of the Vehicle Identification Number, those pieces were confirmed to be from Chartier's car.