Wellness
Our nation is sharing in
an experience with the
COVID-19 crisis that will
serve to reshape the future of
our communities, our work,
our families, and each and every
individual. With so much
attention focused on the diagnosis
and treatment related to
the virus, we recognize that
those feelings of isolation, depression,
anxiety, and even
substance use may impact
substantially more of us than
a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Nearly half of American
adults report that the
COVID-19 crisis has affected
their mental health, according
to recent polling by the
Kaiser Family Foundation.
Meanwhile, Mental Health
America’s (MHA) free, anonymous
COURIER L 18 IFE, JULY 17-23, 2020
screening tools have
seen a 70% increase in individuals
taking their anxiety
screen, and a 64% increase
in the number of people taking
their depression screen
between January and April of
this year.
During this public health
emergency, it is important to
take care of ourselves, support
one other and spread the message
that “you are not alone.”
You are not alone
The National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI) is partnering
with Anthem Inc., one
of the nation’s largest health
benefi ts companies, on a
month-long campaign focused
on reminding all of us that
“You Are Not Alone.” May
is National Mental Health
Month, and together, NAMI
and Anthem, Inc. are focused
on the power and necessity of
maintaining social connections
and well-being during
a time when many are physically
distanced from each
other.
As NAMI CEO Daniel H.
Gillison, Jr. shared, “Especially
during this time of isolation,
uncertainty and tragedy,
it is vital that no one feels
alone in their mental health
journey.”
He continued, “The
COVID-19 crisis not only
shines a spotlight on our need
for social connectedness, but
also our need for real mental
health resources. To support
individuals during this crisis,
NAMI is raising awareness to
change our fragmented mental
health system into one that
serves everyone, so people can
get the care they need.”
“Caring for ourselves -
physically and emotionally -
is critical to improving lives
and communities,” said Dr.
Prakash Patel, executive vice
president and president of Anthem,
Inc.’s Diversifi ed Business
Group. “During this
challenging public health crisis,
it’s important to know
there are resources out there,
whether through your employer,
healthcare provider
or community organizations,
to help us get through this
diffi cult time. Taking care
of our mental health is just
as important as our physical
health. This month is a great
reminder to take care of ourselves,
as well as each other.”
How to take
charge of your
mental health
When the first confirmed
case of COVID-19 hit University
Hospital of Brooklyn
in early March, we could
not imagine the magnitude
of damage this novel
virus would unleash. Now,
nearly four months later, the
United States remains the
unintentional global and national
leader in confirmed
COVID-19 cases, as well as
deaths.
Governor Andrew Cuomo
designated University Hospital
of Brooklyn a COVID-19
only hospital in late March,
and subsequently suspended
this designation two weeks
ago. Nearly four months
later, having risen admirably
to this critical challenge under
the Governor’s guidance,
the COVID-19 only designation
has been suspended.
SUNY Downstate’s University
Hospital of Brooklyn
has now resumed full operations
including providing
routine care for outpatient,
medical, surgical, pediatric,
neurological, and obstetrical
patients. Critical and elective
surgeries have also resumed,
providing Downstate’s patient
communities with the
outstanding healthcare and
attention they trust.
An April 5, 2020 feature on
CNN showed the grave situation
our patients and physicians
faced in treating these
critically-ill patients. This
important report showed
the nation the magnitude of
the virus and how quickly it
manifested.
Amid the uncertainty,
fear, and the unknown, our
physicians and other frontline
staff worked around the
clock providing direct care
as well as indirect support
in their many roles. This
commitment—even in the
face of our own losses—never
slowed down the all-out efforts
to save every life we
could, returning more than
1,000 patients safely home to
their loved ones.
As a safety-net hospital
in East Flatbush where more
than 19 percent of its residents
are unemployed, and
approximately 12 percent are
uninsured, University Hospital
of Brooklyn provides a
critical service in an underserved
community where we
see more than 250,000 visits
each year.
We assure you that our
teams of exceptional frontline
physicians, staff and our
broad spectrum of healthcare
professionals are ready,
willing, and able to resume
providing critical healthcare
to a community where
approximately 90 percent of
COVID-19 deaths were complicated
by multiple co-morbidities
where individuals
faced underlying factors such
as diabetes, high blood pressure,
and heart disease.
We will continue to vigilantly
employ every essential
safety measure to ensure the
health our patients, visitors,
students, faculty, staff, and
everyone entering our premises
is safely protected. We
offer telemedicine services as
an option for patients not yet
comfortable or able to visit us
in person, and we continue to
strictly uphold the practice
of social distancing, frequent
handwashing, facial coverings,
temperature monitoring,
and notifications about
safety procedures.
Our ability to stand together
in these challenging
times reinforces the critical
need for the University Hospital
of Brooklyn in the borough,
and particularly in our
community.
We invite you to come
back to University Hospital
of Brooklyn to resume your
routine and all other healthcare
needs.
We look forward to welcoming
you back and taking
care of you.
For more information on
returning to the University
Hospital of Brooklyn, please
visit: www.downstate.edu/
open.
BUS I N E S S , B ROOK LYN S T Y LE – A DV E RTI S E M E NT
University Hospital of Brooklyn is Here for You
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