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Innovative Delivery of Therapy for Older Adults with Depression
There are many changes that take place as we age, but many people assume that depression is a normal part of aging. Instead, depression is best thought of as a response to losses and changes associated with aging, and most importantly – it is treatable! In our work with community-dwelling older...
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Addressing the Unique Mental Health Challenges Brought on by Aging
Older adults are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the nation and in New York State. There are currently about 4.6 million New Yorkers who are 60 years of age or older and another 4.2 million between the ages of 45 and 59. Individuals with wisdom and life experience are a gift to...
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Addressing the Aging Crisis in New York’s Mental Health Housing
New York’s mental health and supportive housing system is currently facing a significant challenge: an aging population among its residents. Forty years ago, when the original funding and housing models were developed by state leadership, the longevity of residents was not a primary concern....
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Understanding Teenage Self-Harm: Strategies for Prevention and Support
“I needed to cut, the way your lungs scream for air when you swim the length of the pool underwater in one breath. It was a craving so organic it seemed to have risen from my skin itself” (Kettlewell, 2000). This striking yet genuine comment reflects how many teenagers feel when engaging in...
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Elder Abuse and Mental Health: Victims, Perpetrators, and Potential for Change
Elder abuse is increasing in the United States (US) as more Americans age and become vulnerable to various forms of mistreatment (Chang & Levy, 2021). This kind of abuse can have significant effects on mental health, not only for older victims but for perpetrators of abuse,...
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Fountain House’s Silver Center for Older Adults: It Takes a Village to “Live Long and Prosper” with Behavioral Health Challenges
What’s in a name? Just as age 60 is supposedly the new 40, the silver hair on older heads is now apparently worth its weight in gold. However, the “silver” in Silver Center refers to the respect certain cultures, such as the Japanese, confer on their elders. So, when you read about the...
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We’re in a Mental Health Crisis. Why Do We Refuse to Help People with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia?
90% of our country believes we are facing a mental health crisis.1 And whenever there is a tragic incident in New York City, our City and State say that yet another person with schizophrenia has fallen through the cracks.2 We have a solution staring us in the face which can help alleviate...
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Time to Confront the Challenges of an Aging America
America is aging rapidly.1 Over the next few decades, the proportion of adults 65 and older will come to exceed the proportion of children under 18 – an historic first.2 And as the number of older adults grows from approximately 56 million at the beginning of this decade to 85 million in 2050,3...
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Community Mental Health Promotion and Support Team Helps Older Adults Thrive
CEC Health Care operates a Community Mental Health Promotion and Support (COMHPS) team that provides emotional support, wellness activities, screenings, and referrals to treatment in Western Nassau County. A multi-disciplinary team of licensed mental health professionals and paraprofessionals seeks...
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Biden-Harris Administration Awards $45.1 Million to Expand Mental Health and Substance Use Services Across the Lifespan
On Wednesday, July 24, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced grant awards totaling $45.1 million, of which $15.3 million will fund services specifically for children and youth. This funding...
