WESTBROOK -- Spring Harbor Hospital, a psychiatric treatment facility, has received a $51,000 grant from the U.S. government to purchase televideo equipment that will enable physicians to deliver psychiatry consultation services to remote Maine communities.

Among the towns to benefit from Spring Harbor's provision of "telemedicine" services are Boothbay, Damariscotta and Norway.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this is the first time in Maine that a rural development grant has funded the provision of mental health services via telemedicine.

"We are grateful for this award," Spring Harbor Chief Executive Officer Dennis P. King said in a press release. "We look forward to using this technology to deliver mental health services as close as possible to each person's home."