On November 18, 2022, Guidance Center Executive Director/CEO Kathy Rivera and Associate Executive Director Jennifer Rush were the guests on this podcast that informs listeners about the amazing contributions and happenings of Long Island’s non-profit community. Thank you Tommy DiMisa for shedding light on the important work of the Guidance Center to combat the epidemic of mental health challenges in our youth.
Roslyn Heights, NY, December 12, 2022 —When a child faces a mental health challenge, the entire family is impacted. But while people may sympathize with parents and siblings, they often forget that grandparents also struggle with feelings of sadness and helplessness.
That’s why North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center (the Guidance Center) runs a free support group just for grandparents whose grandchildren are on the autism spectrum: GASAK, for Grandparent Advocates Supporting Autistic Kids.
GASAK’s mission is to support, inform and advocate for grandparents with autistic grandchildren. At meetings held on the last Thursday of each month, GASAK participants network and share information on issues critical to families impacted by autism. New members are welcome to join at any time.
While the program isn’t new, it recently returned to in-person meetings at the Guidance Center’s Marks Family Right from the Start 0-3+ Center in Manhasset after being virtual since the start of the pandemic.
While there are many programs for parents of autistic children, few if any address the specific issues that come up for grandparents, said Dr. Sue Cohen, Director of Clinical Services at Right from the Start. “Sometimes the parents are overwhelmed dealing with their children’s needs,” she said. “At GASAK meetings, grandparents can share their own concerns with their peers.”
One GASAK member said, “A lot of times your friends can’t relate to what you’re going through, but when you walk into the GASAK group, you feel comfortable instantly. Nobody judges you.”
The program occasionally features guest speakers, including education lawyers, social workers, special education advocates and others. “When a grandparent leaves a meeting,” said Cohen, “they walk away with information that can make a huge difference in the lives of their children and grandchildren.”
But the camaraderie members experience is perhaps the most important benefit of the group. Case in point: one grandmother who has two autistic grandsons who were nonverbal until they were three years old. When one of them said “Mom” for the first time, the GASAK group celebrated her good news. “There is such compassion among members,” she said. “And by sharing our worries as well as our joyful moments, we give new members hope.”
In addition, the Guidance Center provides a variety of therapeutic services for children on the autism spectrum, as well as their parents and other family members. They also provide testing for preschool-age children to young adults.
To learn more about the GASAK group and all the Guidance Center’s services, contact Cohen at 516-484-3174 or email scohen@northshorechildguidance.org.
About Us:
As the preeminent not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center is dedicated to restoring and strengthening the emotional well-being of children (from birth – age 24) and their families. Our highly trained staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, vocational rehabilitation counselors and other mental health professionals lead the way in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, training, parent education, research and advocacy. The Guidance Center helps children and families address issues such as depression and anxiety; developmental delays; bullying; teen pregnancy; sexual abuse; teen drug and alcohol abuse; and family crises stemming from illness, death, trauma and divorce. For nearly 70 years, the Guidance Center has been a place of hope and healing, providing innovative and compassionate treatment to all who enter our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about the Guidance Center, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call (516) 626-1971.
By Adina Genn, October 21, 2022
If you are struggling to access mental health services on Long Island, you’re not alone. Even those with health insurance face challenges when trying to access care. That’s according to the findings in the latest Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” poll, released Tuesday.
“We have a crisis on Long Island when it comes to the lack of mental health services,” Dr. Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau, said in a statement about the findings. Sponsored by Bethpage Credit Union, the poll was conducted between July 24 and July 28 via landlines and cell phones with 600 Long Islanders.
The findings have a margin of era of plus or minus 3.9%. People seek mental health services for a host of reasons. But since the pandemic, anxiety, depression, social isolation and fear of contracting COVID-19 were the most prevalent, according to the poll. Among those surveyed, 92% have health insurance. Still, of those seeking care, 36% said that getting the help they wanted or needed was “challenging” mostly because of difficulty scheduling capacity or lack of coverage by their health insurers.
Additional challenges include proximity of providers and affordability. And institutions – including government, municipalities and schools – could do more to increase the scope of mental health services in the region, survey respondents said. Of those surveyed, 46% said government does not do enough to help, while 32% said government does.
“The poll results strongly indicate that providers are working at or beyond capacity,” Sharma said. “This calls for an aggressive expansion of mental health screening, prevention and intervention services to meet the present and future demand for them.”
Since the pandemic, about 84% of mental health providers have seen an increase in demand for treatment of anxiety, compared with 74% a year ago, while 72% of providers have seen an increase in demand for treatment of depression, compared with 60% in 2020. School officials have reported spikes in demand for mental health services among students, including elementary and middle-schoolers, according to Mount Sinai South Nassau.
Meanwhile, some psychiatrists and psychologists report high demand for services but difficulty finding adequate staff to meet demand. Some local school leaders have called on government officials to do more to address mental health needs in the schools and local communities. In the event of a mental health emergency, 64% of respondents and 80% of respondents with children said they know where to find services, while 20% disagreed, and 17% were unsure.
Mount Sinai South Nassau has a 36-bed inpatient mental health unit and offers behavioral health services at its Mental Health Counseling Center in Baldwin, as well as its Center for Primary and Behavioral Healthcare in Hempstead. And across Long Island, health systems do offer mental health services, including NYU Langone Hospital Long Island, Stony Brook Medicine, Catholic Health and Northwell Health, which now features several pediatric behavioral health urgent care centers.
Other organizations that provide mental health services or access to support include North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center as well as Family & Children’s Association and Family Service League, among others.
Meanwhile, the recent Truth in Medicine poll found a mixed response as to whether the region’s mental health services are adequate. In the survey, 36% said they are satisfactory, 29% said they are not and 35% were unsure. About 50% who used mental health services said they suffice.
“The stressors of modern life are challenging for most of us and have been made that much harder by the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardship and grief that it has caused,” Dr. Aaron Glatt, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, said in the statement. “There are actions that we can take to live confidently and safely during the pandemic. If you or someone you love is struggling emotionally and that is interfering with daily life, don’t wait to get help,” Glatt said.
A full 89% of respondents and 97% of those who have used mental health services since the start of the pandemic say mental healthcare should be a priority for hospitals, just as cancer and heart health are.
While the rate of children and teenagers receiving therapy for mental health issues related to stress, anxiety, bullying, or substance abuse has increased, it was exacerbated by COVID-19. In the past year, 15% with young children and 20% with a child under 12 sought professional help for a child’s mental health, the poll found.
Recognizing that many children with psychiatric disorders remain unidentified and untreated, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently issued a recommendation calling for anxiety screening of asymptomatic children ages eight to 18 who have not been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and screening of children ages 12 to 18 for major depressive disorder. Of those who accessed mental health care for a child, 25% say it was in person, 21% say they used telemedicine, and 43% used both.
Among those who used telemedicine, most rate it as only fair. Those who did not use telemedicine expressed little interest in doing so in the future. “The key to knowing when to seek out help is to determine how the symptoms are affecting overall functioning,” Dr. Stanley Reddy, chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Mount Sinai South Nassau, said in a statement. “Marked decreases in functioning at work, school, and home should be evaluated by a professional promptly before it becomes an emergency.”
Ask the Guidance Center Experts, December 6, 2022
In this monthly column, therapists from North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center answer your questions on issues related to parenting, mental health and children’s well-being. To submit a question, email communications@northshorechildguidance.org.
Question: My son is begging my wife and me to get him a dog for the holidays. We both grew up having dogs in our homes and found it to be very rewarding. But we also know that it’s a lot of work and takes a big commitment to care for a pet – especially a dog! We are inclined to say yes, especially since the pandemic left him feeling pretty low, and we hope this will lift his spirits. Plus, he promises he’ll take on the bulk of the responsibility. What do you think we should do?
— Pet Parenting Puzzle
Dear Anxious Parents: You are wise to take this decision very seriously. Dogs, as well as other pets, do require a lot of care, and if you are lucky, they will be part of your family for many years to come.
You’re also right in realizing that pets can offer many mental health benefits for kids. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, developing loving feelings about pets can contribute to a child’s self-confidence. Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of trusting relationships with others. And a good relationship with a pet can help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion and empathy.
Some other benefits: Having pets leads to an increase in physical activity; reduces stress; provides companionship and social support; and fosters a connection with the natural world.
Pets provide unconditional love, which is important for every child, but especially helpful for kids who are having difficulties with depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. In fact, research indicates that children with pets tend to have higher levels of self-worth compared to those who don’t have animals. They can also help children with issues such as shyness and autism with their social skills.
All kids, whether or not they have mental health challenges, benefit from their relationships with animals, but if you are considering bringing a pet into your family, here are some factors to consider:
Adopting from a shelter is a great way to save the life of an animal. If you decide that you want a specific breed or your heart is set on the type of dog you had as a kid, consider a rescue or shelter pet. Either way, always make sure you speak with the shelter or breeder about the individual history and personality of your prospective pet. Everything is not always apparent when a fury creature is first introduced at a visit.
Whatever you decide, we wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday!
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Long Island’s leading children’s mental health organization, is seeing clients both remotely via telehealth platforms and in person, depending on the clients’ needs. No one is ever turned away for inability to pay. To make an appointment, call 516-626-1971 or email intake@northshorechildguidance.org.
At North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, our promise is to see children from birth through age 24. In the last year, we have served an increasing number of young children who have experienced enormous trauma due to the pandemic.
Thankfully, we have a dedicated team of therapists who are specially trained to work with our youngest clients, employing creative approaches that help little ones move from hurting to healing.
We wanted to share with you a beautiful letter and drawing we received from one of those youngsters, a girl named Elaina.
We’ll let her words and images tell the story.
All of us at the Guidance Center are so grateful to all of you who support our work. Because we never turn anyone away for inability to pay, we count on your generosity to help us give children like Elaina the help they need to bring joy back into their young lives.
Thank you for caring for kids!