Mental Health ACTION Day

In partnership with more than 1600 brands, nonprofits, government agencies and cultural leaders, Jewish Residential Services is proud to be a partner in Mental Health Action Day this Thursday, May 19th. On this day, we will encourage and empower people to take the next step for #MentalHealthAction. Go to MentalHealthActionDay.org to learn more and join our effort to shift from awareness to action on mental health.

Head to thebranchpgh.org/action to get started with ways that you can take action for yourself or a friend on Mental Health Action Day. There is no-one-size-fits-all action, but rather, this is an open source effort for all who want to use their megaphones to drive our culture of mental health from awareness to action.


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Learn More About the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse

The Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse is a warm and welcoming community, supporting adults whose lives have been disrupted by mental health problems.  The Clubhouse is a program of Jewish Residential Services (JRS) and follows the Standards of the Clubhouse International mental health recovery model. The Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse invites its members to become equal partners in all aspects of daily operation.  Members make important contributions to their Clubhouse community while forming meaningful relationships in a safe and encouraging environment that nurtures strengths and fosters whole person wellness.  Members thrive by being needed, wanted, and appreciated.

The Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse welcomes people of all races, religions, colors, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, national origins, and veteran status. 

Click here to see a video about what a day is the Clubhouse is like, learn how someone can be referred to the Clubhouse, and hear member experiences. 

Click here to visit the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse Website.


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My Triple Whammy During Covid

By: Nancy Passantino, pictured left 

Don’t believe anyone who tells you that Covid did not affect their mental health. They may not have the language to describe what they are going through as those of us with mental illness have but, like us, they have been on a scary uncharted course unlike anything they may have ever experienced before.

As a member of the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse for the past seven years, I believe I had been able to get all the help and guidance needed to maintain a normal lifestyle with only a few bumps in the road. Getting to the Clubhouse a few times a week and participating in the work ordered day gave me a place to socialize and ground myself. That was before this unimaginable world pothole appeared and we all fell in.

I have been suffering with a triple whammy these past few years. Diagnosed with bipolar depression in my early 20’s, now a senior adult and one having underlying medical conditions, I seemed to check all the boxes. Is it any wonder that for quite a while I was not really living, only surviving? A famous quote by a German philosopher says that if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger; but a famous comedian also once commented that unless you’re eating ice cream, you’re suffering.

As for becoming stronger I believe the truth in that, and I’ve even read that some people can experience post traumatic growth (PTG) during these times which can result in having a renewed appreciation for life and adopting a new world view with new possibilities for us. Today I am a work in progress, using my mindfulness practices and keeping all my mental health tools in hand to keep me afloat and give me strength. I have slowly, if baby steps count, been able to reintroduce myself back into society and back to the Clubhouse that is awaiting me. Such a wonderful feeling.

Of course, just in case, I always keep a supply of ice cream in my freezer.


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Webinar: The Impact of COVID on Teen Mental Health

COVID has forever changed our lives and the effect of COVID on the mental health of teens and young adults has been particularly acute. Join us virtually on Tuesday, May 31st from 5:00-6:00 PM for a candid conversation with Erin Barr, Clinical Coordinator for UpStreet, JFCS Pittsburgh’s innovative mental wellness program for teenagers and young adults. Learn the difference between “normal” teenage behavior and behavior that requires intervention, the unique challenges in teen mental health, and where to turn for help.

Closed captioning will be provided. Click here to register.


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The Mystifying Rise of Child Suicide

When Trevor Matthews, 12, took his own life, a year ago, his parents were left trying to understand why there are so few therapeutic interventions for children with depression. This article from The New Yorker, recounts Trevor’s story, explores the rising rates of childhood suicide, and delves into that work that needs to be done in our society to prevent such tragedies. Click here to read the article.

Upcoming Webinar

Suicide Safety Webinar Logo

Who: For Parents, Educators, and Clinicians
What: Learn the warning signs in young children and how to practice prevention and intervention with the latest research and best practices
When: Wednesday, May 25, 2022 8:00- 9:30 PM EDT/5:00-6:30 pm PDT

*CE’s available for Psychologists for an additional fee (for this event only). Click here for details and registration.
 

 

 


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Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month Profile: Sam Skobel

Meet Sam Skobel, an online tutor and dance teacher working towards a masters in education. Sam talks about her experiences having epilepsy and how it has impacted her career path. She also offers advice to people with disabilities and to employers. Watch her interview here.

To learn more about the inclusion of people of all abilities in the workplace, click here to sign up for a free webinar being held on Monday, February 28th at 5:30pm.

Click here to see virtual events taking place during Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.


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Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month Profile: David Dickman

Squirrel Hill residents might recognize David Dickman from the Murray Avenue Giant Eagle, where he has been employed as a bagger for 23 years. David is a member of Poale Zedeck, a resident of Krause Commons on Murray Avenue, a participant in Life’sWork classes, and a participant in Jewish Residential Services’ supportive living program. To say he is a staple in the Squirrel Hill community is not an overstatement. 

David explains, “I know a lot of the people from Squirrel Hill, and they know me. Squirrel Hill is my home base.”

What some people who recognize David might not know is that he lives with a mental health diagnosis that has been persistent and severe for much of his life. The activities and programs in which David participates are necessary for him to live a full life and receive the support he needs. David’s job at Giant Eagle is essential to providing structure in David’s life.

His job gives him a sense of dignity, accomplishment, and responsibility.  “I get depressed some days. If I didn’t have work, I wouldn’t know what to do. It is important for me to work. I don’t want to only take, but I want to give. Helping other people helps me,” said David.

David’s appreciation for his job is not surprising, considering national organizations like NAMI report people with a mental health diagnosis who are employed for a meaningful length of time report improved self-esteem and symptom management. Part of David’s success finding and keeping employment comes from a job coach who assists him with goals, challenges, and planning.

Although nearly 60 percent of the seven million people receiving public mental health services nationwide want to work, less than two percent receive supported employment opportunities such as job coaching and community-based services. Finding work can be overwhelming for anyone; however, people with psychiatric disabilities face additional challenges due to their symptoms. Without supported employment opportunities, a person with a mental health diagnosis is less likely to find, keep, and be successful at a job.

It is David’s hope that employers throughout the city and beyond recognize that there are people with disabilities who want to work, and who are valuable to the workplace. “People with disabilities have challenges just like anyone else. They are trying to overcome their disabilities to concentrate on the job,” said David.

As for what he thinks people with disabilities need to know about finding employment, “I think people with disabilities need someone to work with them to realize what they can do. It has helped me. A job can be a springboard to other opportunities.”

To learn more about the inclusion of people of all abilities in the workplace, click here to sign up for a free webinar being held on Monday, February 28th at 5:30pm.

Click here to see virtual events taking place during Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.


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Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month Profile: Mike Hogan

During Jewish Disability Awareness,
Acceptance, and Inclusion Month
, we will be featuring stories of people with disabilities and their experience in the workforce. Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse member and previous JRS board member, Mike “Wendell” Hogan, explains his experience with transitional employment and how it helped him. Click here to watch.

Click here to see virtual events taking place during Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.


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Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month Profile: Sharon Shapiro

Sharon Shapiro lives in Charles Morris Hall on Munhall Road in Squirrel Hill and participates in Jewish Residential Services’ Supportive Living Program. This program provides ongoing support which allows participants with intellectual disabilities to live independently in their community.

Sharon, who has ADD, a cognitive disorder, and a seizure disorder, has been employee of Giant Eagle for the past 21 years, she also has an excellent job history. Her parents and job coach helped her find the job which, importantly, provided access to better health benefits.

She gathers carts at Giant Eagle, which can sometimes be physically taxing for her. However, when she comes home at the end of her shift or if she has a difficult day and feels the need to unwind, she knows exactly what to do: cook. “Cooking helps me get out the stress,” she explained.

Sharon’s grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, owned a restaurant in Whitehall for several years. Growing up, she would watch and help her grandfather cook. “He never wrote any recipes down. They were all from memory, so I make my own version of the food he used to make,” Sharon said.

When she talks about cooking, she lights up; cooking relaxes her. She loves to bring various dishes to social events in Morris Hall and experiment with new versions of old recipes.

“I wish I could have went to culinary school,” Sharon explained. “Because of the medicines I have to take, I don’t have a steady hand, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get a job cooking.”

Many people with disabilities share Sharon’s concerns and sense of discouragement. The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed 32 years ago,  prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, and reasonable accommodations must be made to enable an individual to perform essential job functions. However, in 2020, only one-third of managers claimed to know the details of the ADA’s legal requirements. This makes it easy to see why people with disabilities perceive workplaces as inaccessible.

Although Sharon does not currently have her dream job in the culinary world, she does have work that adds structure to her day, provides her with the medical benefits she needs and gives her financial independence. She encourages anyone with a disability to speak to a job coach.  A job coach can help with interview practice, transportation planning, and support an individual in sustaining employment.

Click here to see virtual events taking place during Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.


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Action alert: tell Senate to support the Build Back Better Act to improve the lives of people with disabilities

Congress recently passed a historic bill that can improve the lives of millions of people with disabilities who rely on home and community-based services. The bill is now awaiting passage by the Senate.  The Build Back Better Act would also improve the lives of direct support professionals and the loved ones of people with disabilities by: 

  • Expanding access to Medicaid home and community-based services
  • Creating a national paid leave program
  • Addressing the direct care workforce crisis, including raising wages
  • Improving and expanding the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program

Please take two minutes and click here to tell your Senator to support the Build Back Better Act to help
improve lives of people who need it the most. 

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