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Healthy Aging: For Older Adults, The Pandemic is Far from Over
As we move into Year Three of the Covid-19 pandemic, older adults remain at high risk. Those over age 65 now account for 90% of COVID deaths – and many of those becoming ill are fully vaccinated and boosted. While many Americans feel confident to resume social activities and travel, our older...
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Addressing Clinician Burnout in a Community Mental Health Setting During the COVID Pandemic
More than two years into the COVID pandemic, we are probably all familiar with the term “burnout.” According to the literature, burnout is defined as a syndrome resulting from one’s profession that is comprised of three dimensions of symptoms: fatigue and emotional exhaustion, a low sense of...
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How the Pandemic Turned Behavioral Healthcare for Older Adults on Its Head
The past three years have brought about the greatest transformation in behavioral healthcare practices that I have seen in four decades. I have served as Chief Executive Officer of Service Program for Older People (SPOP) for 33 years. We provide community-based behavioral healthcare for adults...
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How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Future of Behavioral Health Care
“Out of all human events, it is tragedy alone that brings people out of their own petty desires and into awareness of other humans’ suffering. Tragedy occurs in human lives so that we will learn to reach out and comfort others.” - C. S. Lewis Throughout history, we have learned many of...
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Recovery, Hope and Resilience During the Pandemic
As one of the largest providers of outpatient mental health services in New York State, New York Psychotherapy and Counseling (NYPCC) works together with tens of thousands of New Yorkers facing mental health challenges. NYPCC embraces a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed model of community mental...
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Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Prevention of COVID-19 Among New York State Behavioral Health Employees
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 79 million cases of confirmed infection and over 963,000 deaths in the United States.1 The pandemic has also resulted in increased levels of adverse mental health conditions, substance use and suicidal ideation.2 The reported prevalence of anxiety and...
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Adapting the Compeer Volunteer Program During COVID-19
It was mid-March 2020, and I, like so many others, will never forget how concerned I felt as I prepared to leave my office indefinitely to work from home due to the threat of COVID-19-19. It was a time when all of us were worried about our health and our futures, regardless of our circumstances....
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Information and Answers for People Who Use Drugs or Have Substance Use Disorder During COVID-19
Having a substance use disorder can make you more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. People who use drugs may also have underlying medical conditions that put them at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and they may have concerns and questions related to their risk....
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A Lesson in Resiliency
The Pandemic has and continues to challenge everyone in many similar and different ways. The profound loss of lives and continuing vigilance and preparation/adjustment on part of everyone has tested the limits of many individuals, families, businesses and organizations. Increased stress and...
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Lessons of COVID-19: Staff Dedication and Skill Key to Success
The Institute for Community Living (ICL) compass shines brightly on our North Star: “People get better with us.” This simple yet profound message has given us meaning and purpose during unprecedented social upheaval. We know, empirically, that what matters most and keeps people in their job is...
