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Better Health D
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TRAVEL: Distilleries are getting creative, D4 EMMY AWARDS: Drama predictions for tonight’s ceremony, D7 BOOK REVIEW: ‘Dear Ann,’ D10
| SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
“With isolation often comes
depression,
and on top of that there is a
fear factor.
People are scared, even now. So we have definitely seen more people reaching out.” - Lois Nesci, CEO of Gándara Center
right before the pandemic hit a peak in March and April. She said even though much of the staff is now working virtually or in the office for limited periods, the shared mission remains the same. “The focus and the goals of Gándara are really based on providing good quality behavioral health services, substance use services, and children’s behavioral health services to Latinos and all people in the communities we serve in Western and Central Massachusetts,” she said. “We work with individuals with limited resources who often find themselves homeless, unemployed and with poor access to health care. My personal goal is to strengthen that array of service delivery to those who need it most.” Nesci credits the hardworking staff at Gándara Center, who immediately transitioned to providing telehealth By Elizabeth Román services whenever possible Special to The Republican and ensured that every client “We immediately tried to was getting the services and understand the impact as the medication they needed. CDC and Gov. Charlie Baker Yeika Serrano, program were both sharing informasupervisor for the agency’s tion with us,” said Lois Nesci, Adult Community Clinic CEO of Gándara Center. Services, said her staff of cli“There were directives and nicians, outreach workers and guidelines we had to interpret peer specialists doubled their and implement. We had to contact with clients once they hit the pause button so that went virtual. we could regroup to really “Many of them don’t have address how to best tackle the option for the telehealth what COVID-19 was present- video conferencing, but our ing to us.” clinicians have been calling Gándara Center is based in them multiple times a week West Springfield but offering just to check in on them and services across the state. ensure that their mental Nesci has held executive health is stable,” she said. leadership positions at several The program serves clients nonprofit human services with serious to severe menagencies in Massachusetts tal health illnesses ranging and Connecticut, including from social anxiety to panic the title of CEO at the Center disorders and hallucinations. of Human Development in There are also some clients Springfield. She began her with severe physical disabilities. Most of them live alone, role at Gándara on Feb. 3,
When the coronavirus pandemic led to a statewide shutdown in March and a switch to virtual services for education, employers and health care providers, Gándara Center staff had to quickly figure out how to keep in touch with their clients, many of whom are dealing with mental health conditions.
Serrano said. “One of the reasons my staff increased the phone contact with clients is that many of them are completely isolated outside of maybe a community event or gathering. With those events being limited or canceled they can develop depression or increased anxiety from the isolation,” she said.
“That’s why I have been so impressed with our staff. They care about their clients and want to make sure that they are making it through this pandemic.” While Serrano’s team deals with adults, Kritzia Garcia has the added challenge of working with teenagers and young adults. Garcia is a
Lois Nesci, Chief Executive Officer of Gándara Center. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)
housing specialist with the Shine Young Adult Housing Program. Gándara Center works with homeless youth between the ages of 18-24 providing them with housing and helping them secure employment. During the height of the pandemic, many of them lost jobs or could not go to school and were confined to the small shelter nearly 24 hours a day. “Normally we are just an overnight shelter with five rooms for youth who are currently homeless, but in March we had to transition to being open 24/7 because these youths really had nowhere else to go,” Garcia said. “Normally during the day they were working or going to school or participating in some of Gándara’s outreach programs.” The program also provides housing for about 30 young people across Greater Springfield. “We pay for their rent for a year and provide them with case management services that help them with finding steady employment or getting them onto school,” Garcia said. “We also teach them about financial literacy and saving money so that after the year they are financially stable enough to continue paying for their apartment and hopefully keep them from facing homelessness again.” While youth are resilient, Garcia said the challenges have ranged from those who did not take the social distancing guidelines seriously at the beginning to dealing with anxiety, depression and even boredom. “It’s hard for them to not be able to be out and about,”she said. “They also are in close quarters so there is bickering and little arguments, but
eventually they realized that this is a serious thing, that this wasn’t something that was going away anytime soon.” While counseling services and at-home visits have gone virtual, Nesci said many of the services including the bilingual pharmacy on Main Street have remained operational throughout the pandemic. “We certainly had to adapt to how we were delivering services, and that included the use of telehealth, which allows for clinicians and staff to meet with people virtually to address their mental health needs, their substance use needs, including youth who have be behavioral health needs,” she said. “We have a variety of congregate care settings for individuals who have needs around substance use and recovery and those programs have operated on site because those are considered essential services.” Nesci said the agency has also seen an increase in clients seeking mental health and behavioral health services in the past few months. “The reality is all of our lives changed almost overnight,” she said. “The biggest thing that happened was the physical distancing and isolation and the lack of contact with people because that’s what we were asked to do. But everything we do as humans is relational, so when you say to folks not to be around other people, that often times means they can’t go to work or go to church or go to the store. With isolation often comes depression, and on top of that there is a fear factor. People are scared, even now. So we have definitely seen more people reaching out.”
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D2 | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
stay fit How to
Coping with
Stress and finding Support
During the Pandemic
M
any people are struggling to deal with the disruption and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Physically distancing ourselves from family and friends, financial insecurity, virtual schooling, lack of childcare, and working remotely or as an essential employee are all stressors that can cause feelings of uncertainty, fear, social isolation, and loneliness. Stressful times affect our mental well-being. It is important to understand how to deal with the feelings you are experiencing and recognize when to seek help. Focus on ways you can stay in control of your mental and physical health. A good night’s sleep, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet are all examples of self-care. Take breaks from news consumption and social media, and spend more time focusing on positive aspects of your life. Find support by staying connected with family and friends, and purpose by helping a colleague or neighbor. While making self-care a priority may be enough for
THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM
when social distancing
some, others will need help coping with stress and the lack of usual supports caused by the pandemic. This might be especially true for those who have struggled with behavioral health challenges such as depression, anxiety, or addiction in the past and are at greater risk of relapsing or falling into old patterns. If you are feeling overwhelmed and notice that changes in the way you think or feel are causing problems in your day-to-day life, this may be an indication it is time to seek professional help. Getting help at the onset of symptoms can prevent mental health conditions from worsening or becoming severe. There are many ways to safely access supports and services while social distancing. While traditional in-person visits are now offered on a more limited basis, telehealth has made behavioral health care accessible from a convenient location of your choice. Telehealth allows children, youth, adults, and families to connect with a therapist, psychiatric prescriber, care coordinator,
behavioral support team, recovery coach, or group supports by phone or through video chat. If you or a family member are struggling with addiction or at risk of relapse, it is crucial to seek professional help right away. Whether you are looking for online support or a treatment program, reaching out for direction is the first step to recovery. Most inpatient and outpatient detox and substance use treatment programs remain open, operating with enhanced precautions to ensure the health and safety of patients and staff. If you need help, it is available and safe and there is no reason to wait. If you previously received services, contact your provider to schedule an appointment and inquire about their telehealth offering. To request new services, talk to your primary care doctor or a health professional that can refer you to appropriate services, or contact BHN at 413246-9675. If experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, call the BHN Crisis line at (413) 733-6661.
Steve Winn, Ph.D.
President and CEO, Behavioral Health Network As president and CEO of Behavioral Health Network (BHN), Steve leads the organization’s efforts in the development and delivery of high quality, integrated services for those challenged by mental illness, substance use, or intellectual disabilities. BHN is the principle provider of mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability services in the Pioneer Valley serving more than 40,000 individuals annually and employing over 2,400 people.
Many creative ideas Many people consider their gyms have surfaced. classes much more than a · Online An internet connection necessary to place to exercise. A isfindallathat’s number of workouts that can be streamed from gym can be a great the comfort of home. The place to socialize streaming website YouTube can be a gold mine for while trying to free workouts. Some cable service providers also may stay healthy. have On Demand fitness channels or rentals that can Having friends mirror some of the classes or fellow fitness taken at the gym. enthusiasts around · Social apps Gym-goers can inquire also can provide whether their gyms are offering alternative the motivation programs. For example, many people need Jersey Strong, a fitness chain in New Jersey, began to stay the course live-streaming many of its popular group fitness classand achieve their es via a special Facebook page. Class instructors fitness goals. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association says more than 70 million consumers visited health clubs in 2017. That marked a record high since IHRSA began tracking data in 1987. Fitness centers were among the many non-essential businesses forced to shutter as a result of COVID-19, forcing fitness enthusiasts to find new ways to stay mentally and physically fit.
We’re Here for You.
Introducing BHNTeleCare.
Connecting individuals and families with therapeutic supports by phone or through a secure internet connection. Call today for information or to schedule a session:
413-BHN-WORK 413-246-9675 24-Hour Crisis Line 413-733-6661
www.bhninc.org
guide classes from their own homes or from empty gyms. Other gyms may provide links to subscriber-based gym training workouts free of charge.
· The great outdoors
Even though some parks, beaches and trails have been closed, workouts can take place in and around the neighborhood. Jogging or walking can be excellent cardiovascular exercises, as can taking a bicycle ride
for a few miles down neighborhood streets. People who live in rural areas can run through forested land or even farmland. Pushups, sit-ups, planks, and other body weight exercises can be done right in the backyard. Before making a decision about whether or not to be active outside, be sure to check the latest guidance from your local health department and community or state leaders.
· Remote sports
Videos of city dwellers playing tennis across roof tops for much-needed air and exercise have emerged in recent weeks. Similar benefits can be achieved with a game of catch, volleyball or racquet sports over fences with neighbors, provided limits on participants are placed and social distancing is maintained.
Staying fit during COVID-19 restrictions takes some ingenuity, but it’s certainly possible to maintain your overall health. In fact, some people have found they now have more time to exercise than they did before.