by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Aug 10, 2023 | Blog
By Guest Blogger Chloe Cohen
As the need for mental health services for youth becomes increasingly necessary, with 21.8% of children diagnosed with one or more of the common mental health conditions, it’s vital to highlight the voices of those being affected: the children. Recent studies and institutionalized changes surrounding the mental wellbeing of children can be largely attributed to the speaking out of young people and normalization of seeking help.
It can be questioned why diagnosis statistics are at a steady incline. It remains true that it may be virtually impossible to pinpoint the exact causal pathway to one rooted issue as mental disorders are largely multifactorial. Despite this, it is important to listen to the children impacted in order to make advancements in our systems and resources.
Combating the Stigma: How Generation Z Views Mental Health
In a study focused on the generational differences in mental health, Deloitte found that in terms of holistic health priorities, the leading concern for Generation Z is mental health with physical health following in second. This is a drastic difference to the older generations who majorly don’t consider mental illness to be a “health” problem – Mental Health America found that only 38% of adults 65 and older believe depression to be a health issue. The stigma surrounding mental health has been a prominent setback towards advancements in treatment for years. Generation Z, myself included in this demographic, has taken this matter into our own hands in consistently spreading awareness and further, advocating for the need for accessible treatment and resources.
Despite more frequent mental health conversations, the gap between prevalence and treatment is still vast so it’s crucial to listen to the youth’s recommendations on what they believe will combat these struggles.
So, What Should Be Done?
New York State has taken notice of the youth’s call to action and began to dig deeper at what can be done for these issues. Governor Hochul invested a striking $1 billion in youth mental health studies to address the CDC instated mental health crisis among youth. The premise of the study was to collect feedback from children all over NYS with a focus on what types of programs and advice youth could envision de-escalating the crisis.
According to the June 2023 published Youth Mental Health Listening Tour Report, here are some key youth recommendations from the study:
● Involving young people in decision making/ mental health program design
● Hiring diverse health professionals that can relate to a variety of students
● Increase amount of youth led programs
● Educate adults on how to support young people, listen without judgment, and establish clear lines of confidentiality
● Invest in social and recreational activities to promote mental wellness
It’s the duty of the professionals and NYS to hear these results and put them into action. Now, where does The Guidance Center fall into this?
The Guidance Center is Here to Help
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center emphasizes compassion and innovative treatments for children from birth to 24 years old. Our staff across all three locations contains a wide range of diverse individuals with an array of experiences in order to optimize the relatability and relationships between therapist and client, as is an important factor in mental health care according to the report. Additionally, The Guidance Center provides a number of programs and services to support the youth in the way that they need to be supported. Each client is comprehensively evaluated, tailored to an individual treatment plan that may include any combination of individual, family, and group therapy, and if needed, medication management.
As an intern in The Guidance Center, I have had the privilege of learning about our programs and closely working with the staff that make it all happen. I can say with confidence that The Guidance Center not only provides services that accommodate these youth recommendations, but the staff as a whole is truly dedicated to ensuring the mental wellbeing of our youth. Outside of therapy, The Guidance Center offers programs such as the Wilderness Respite Program that hosts children from any mental health facility to come together and participate in adventurous activities as a gateway to mastery of social skills and youth empowerment. The Guidance Center also offers programs such as the LGBTQ+ & Latina Girls Project that bring together clients who may be in need of extra support from those who have similar experiences.
Our staff is specially trained for working with children and their families with no limits or restrictions to provide our clients with the care they need. A major setback to children receiving services is financial limitations. At The Guidance Center, we are dedicated to reaching everybody who needs us. As said by Executive Director/CEO, Kathy Rivera, “We turn no one away for any inability to pay… We are committed to equity in mental health regardless of what your ZIP code is, what your bank account looks like. Everyone deserves to have access to care.” The Guidance Center is a place where youth heal and thrive accessibly and affordably as we stay up to date with changing times and individually molded treatment plans.
If you or your child is in need of support, know that we are here to help! Call us at (516) 626-1971 to learn more about our services or make an appointment today.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jul 6, 2023 | Blog
Guest Blog By Emily Graham
About 1 in 11 children in the US live with a parent who has a substance addiction problem, reports the National Library of Medicine. This is a worrying statistic – such kids tend to have turbulent lives and many mental health challenges. The addicted parent may demonstrate an extreme spectrum of behavior to the child, ranging from healthy caring to outright abuse, leaving the child feeling confused, anxious, angry, traumatized, and unstable.
Understanding that the erratic behavior is a result of the parent’s substance addiction can help the child come to terms with the situation. It gives them insight into the “why”, that it’s not their fault, and helps them gain more mental peace. Furthermore, if the child is of suitable age, it can help the child practically assist the parent.
Technology can be an invaluable asset in giving the child insight into addiction (and related behavior). Below, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Centerexplains how.
Access to educational resources
First and foremost, technology provides children with easy access to helpful educational resources covering addiction. The child can conveniently read articles, watch videos, and check other resources from their smartphones or computers. Much of this material is explained simply, in a way even young kids would understand. Moreover, children can have pressing questions answered directly by experts. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation offers free educational resources for kids.
Support counseling
A parent’s addiction can be hard for the child to witness. Sometimes, if the parent is abusive, it affects them directly. With technology like video conferencing and Chatbots, kids can quickly connect to qualified therapists and other trained mental health professionals. Said experts can help the child make sense of their parent’s behavior and provide emotional and mental support. If you’re a child or young adult looking for such support, reach out to North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center.
Virtual participation in support groups
Support groups provide multiple benefits – an avenue to express your feelings, access to helpful information, access to people in similar situations, increased self-understanding, and anxiety relief. Children can’t always join support groups in the real world, for various reasons. With technology, kids can join virtual support groups (including forums, social media groups, chat groups, and more).
Communicating with parents struggling with addiction
Sometimes the parent struggling with addiction may not be physically present for the child. In such cases, messaging and video conferencing apps allow the parent to communicate with the child remotely. Instead of having the other parent (or a stranger) explain the reasons for the absence, the struggling parent could do so in person, which is better for everyone involved.
Second or third-hand experience
Understanding addiction is easier if you witness the effects personally or hear stories from people who are struggling with a substance abuse disorder. There are several apps out there – like AA Big Book and Sober Grid – that provide kids with second or third-hand experiences from people suffering from addiction or their loved ones. The AA Big Book app, for example, is full of personal stories, prayers, and how-to guides revolving around addiction.
Role reversal: Helping the addicted parent
Sometimes, the child looks after the parent instead of the other way around. This role reversal is, unfortunately, frequent in families where one or both parents suffers from an addiction. Technology can provide the child access to helpful resources on addiction treatment and recovery, not to mention get direct assistance from qualified experts for their parents. For instance, technology can raise awareness of and provides access to addiction recovery facilities that can help beat addiction.
Conclusion
Understanding the problem is an important first step in managing it. When the child understands the parent’s addiction – including the causes and symptoms – they know not to take it personally. It can help them gain more mental peace and inner stability. In many, it can help the child assist the parent in recovering. Technology can both facilitate said understanding and act as useful support when the child wants to help the parent recover.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | May 16, 2023 | In The Media, Press Releases
Roslyn Heights, NY, May 10, 2023—On Thursday, April 28, 2023, a sellout crowd of over 250 participants came together for North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s Annual Spring Luncheon. This year’s event, which supports the Guidance Center’s mission to restore and strengthen the emotional well-being of children and their families, garnered a record-breaking $100,000 in donations.
The gathering at Glenn Head Country Club started with a morning session of Mahjong and Canasta accompanied by exclusive shopping experiences from several of Long Island’s most fashionable and philanthropic small businesses including: Ameliora, Chintz Giraffe, Daniella Erin NYC, Dash Accessories, DeCorr & More, Designs that Donate, Eye Candy, Freida Rothman Jewelry, Kostume Klassics, Meryl Roesch Sunglasses, Simply Splendid Accessories, Tall Order, and Transitions.
After an elegant buffet lunch, event co-chair, Alexis Siegel, introduced the day’s speaker, Lisa Friedman Clark. The crowd was moved and enlivened by Ms. Clark’s inspirational story of overcoming considerable personal tragedy to become an advocate for mental health services and co-owner of the apparel company Tall Order.
“Lisa Friedman Clark’s story is remarkably moving,” said Alexis Siegel “Her continued strength, motivation, and resilience in the face of so much adversity is inspirational. Hearing about how the Guidance Center’s dedicated team of professionals played such a critical role in her family’s healing process makes me proud to be a part of this organization.”
The luncheon wouldn’t have been such a triumph without the hard work of the co-chairs, Jan Ashley, Amy Cantor and Alexis Siegel. “I am so grateful to everyone who participated in our Spring Luncheon event,” said Kathy Rivera Executive Director of the Guidance Center. “Together we are making our Long Island communities stronger by raising awareness and supporting our mission.”
The Guidance Center is also grateful for the support of its sponsors. They are: Americana Manhasset,
Amy Cantor, Alexis Siegel, Joan Grant, Klipper Family Foundation, NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island,
United Healthcare, Ruth Fortunoff Cooper, Nancy Lane, South Oaks Hospital and Zucker Hillside Hospital – Northwell Health, Marilyn Albanese, Janice Ashley, Stephanie Ginsberg, Janni and Associates, Andrea Leeds, Fara Copell, Stacy Hoffman, Debbie Klein, Cynthia Rubinberg, Janice Schlesinger, Joanne Silverman and Rachel Zuckerbrot.
Pictured from left: Michele Frankel, Andrea Leeds, Faith Lerner, and Michele Freidus
Feature Photo: pictured from left: Amy Cantor, Kathy Rivera, Alexis Siegel, Lisa Friedman Clark
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 more than 65 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 North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Mar 13, 2023 | CBS News TV, In The Media
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Mar 10, 2023 | In The Media, The Island Now
North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, the leading not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, is pleased to announce that The Andy Foundation, a Garden City-based nonprofit, dedicated to helping children less fortunate than most, has donated $10,000 to support its mission.
“There is such a tremendous need now for supporting mental health services for young people, especially since the pandemic caused such isolation, fear and sadness,” said Jill Palmeri, the founder of The Andy Foundation. “Our mission is helping children in need, and the lifesaving work of the Guidance Center is something we are proud to support.”
Kathy Rivera, executive director/CEO of the Guidance Center, expressed gratitude for The Andy Foundation’s generous donation.
“We never turn anyone away for inability to pay, so we count on the support of the local community, foundations and other funding sources to make sure we are here for everyone who needs us,” Rivera said. “Kids and teens are experiencing rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thinking at levels that are higher than ever before, and because of caring people like Jill and her team, these young people will get the help they desperately need and deserve.”
The Andy Foundation, which was formed in 2004 to honor the memory of Andrew Palmeri, focuses on helping children less fortunate than most. If you would like to support The foundation you can do so by donating or shopping at The Andy Foundation Yard Sale Shop, located at 195 Herricks Road, Garden City Park. The store is filled with vintage and gently used items and it is staffed by a team of dedicated volunteers. All proceeds from the store go to furthering the mission of The Andy Foundation.
The Guidance Center, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and has offices in Roslyn Heights, Manhasset and Westbury, is dedicated to restoring and strengthening the emotional well-being of children (from birth to age 24) and their families. The organization’s highly trained staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals lead the way in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and advocacy. The Guidance Center helps children and families address issues such as depression and anxiety; suicidal thinking; developmental delays; bullying; teen pregnancy; sexual abuse; drug and alcohol use; trauma; and family crises stemming from illness, death and divorce.
For more information on the Andy Foundation, visit www.theandyfoundation.org or email info@theandyfoundation.org. To learn more about the Guidance Center, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org or call 516-626-1971.
