Spectrum Health Systems Inc.

For more than half a century, Worcester’s Spectrum Health Systems has worked to help those affected by mental health disorders or addiction statewide. The challenge has been made harder during the coronavirus pandemic, with polls showing exceptionally high rates of depression and anxiety.

Worcester-based Spectrum Health Systems has landed a $44-million contract with the state to provide medication-assisted drug addiction treatment throughout the Massachusetts prison system.

Central Massachusetts hospitals are bringing home a range of awards for the care they offer.

If debates about the Affordable Care Act and proposed universal health care haven’t already made it clear, the idealized version of access isn’t the norm for many Americans, especially not for those who belong to vulnerable population groups who struggle with mental health challenges.

Spectrum Health Systems, a Worcester addiction treatment nonprofit, has treated 40 people in an isolated unit that provides medically supervised detoxification and clinical stabilization services for clients who have tested positive for COVID-19, at its Westborough campus.

The pandemic has complicated things for Behavioral health providers in their patients in two major ways: anxiety of getting the virus and depression from being stuck often alone indoors has increased risks for patients, while efforts to keep people generally away from one another has made group therapy sessions almost impractical.

When Spectrum Health Systems got its start half a century ago, the agency was located in Methuen, was named the Challenge House, and the addiction treatment industry thought little of the complex ways people could be helped.

Central Massachusetts providers say there appears to be a growing problem of substance misuse among older adults.

Cheryl Gallant, of Coghlin Companies Inc. in Worcester, is one of two new board members at Spectrum Health Systems.

The Worcester-based addiction treatment services provider is planning to merge with a Tennessee-based company next year.