Author: SÍLE MOLONEY
Photo courtesy of Montefiore Health System
No longer a “silent struggle,” hundreds of Bronx residents and their families who suffer from a variety of symptoms that affect mood, thoughts and behavior participated in various events hosted by Montefiore Health System over the past two months in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Topics related to mental health discussed at the various events were requested by members of the community, and the various discussions were led by Montefiore’s Department of Psychiatry and the Office of Community and Population Health (OCPH).
Liz Spurrell-Huss, MPH, MSW, director of OCPH’s Health Equity Program, said of the series of events, “These events were incredibly moving and inspiring as each community expressed what was most important to them, from mindfulness to suffering, victimization, and violence,” adding, “While each event was different, I was moved by how open and engaged everyone was about topics that can be very stigmatized and difficult to discuss.”
Photo courtesy of Montefiore Health System
The event was held in partnership with the following Bronx community organizations:
- Ground breaking – Park Houses, La Central and Boston Road.
- Jewish Association for the Aging (JASA)
- Pastoral Migratory Church of San Antonio de Padua;
- Presbyterian Senior Services (PSS) Life University;
- Regional Assistance for Interim Needs (RAIN): Middletown Center, Gun Hill Senior Center, Trentine Senior Center, Parkchester Senior Center.
- Riverdale Senior Services: Shelby Apartments, Marble Hill Senior Center,
- Luke’s Episcopal Church
“Hearing the stories, struggles and successes of individuals in the community is an honor and an important step in connecting people who need mental health support to treatment,” said Dr. Ana Ozdoba, director of psychiatry residency training at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Ozdoba added, “It was also a valuable experience for our psychiatry residents who are new to the field, reminding them why we’re in the Bronx and the importance of community partnerships to address today’s mental health crisis.”
Photo courtesy of Montefiore Health System
As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, Montefiore’s Pediatric Outpatient Psychiatry department, led by Dr. Jenny Seaham, has partnered with HearYourSong, a nonprofit organization that helps children and teens with serious illnesses and complex health needs find their voices heard through songwriting, to present a concert featuring original songs on a variety of themes, from friendship to battling depression.
“Children in our community are feeling unprecedented levels of grief and despair, and students of color are at heightened risk for increased stress, anxiety and depression,” Seham, director of Arts and Integrative Medicine and Montefiore Einstein’s Youth Empowerment Series (YES), said of the musical event.
Photo courtesy of Montefiore Health System
She continued, “YES highlights the strength, resilience and creativity of local youth through arts performances and exhibitions. Their songs have a powerful impact on themselves and their audiences. The concerts are truly community healing experiences.”
Montefiore has been designated a Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Care by the New York State Department of Mental Health and earlier this year announced plans to open a new pediatric inpatient unit in the Bronx.
