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Is Within Reach.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer planning to buy a
home in New York City or the New York counties of
Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Putnam or Rockland,
you may be eligible for the Homebuyer Dream
Program.
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BRONX TIMES R 2 EPORTER, MAY 21-27, 2021 BTR
Gibson and Union
Community Health
rally for mental
health services
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson advocates for mental health services. Photo by Jason Cohen
BY JASON COHEN
This past year NYC saw small businesses
close, kids learned remotely,
thousands died and got sick and many
lost jobs. All of this led to isolation, depression
and poor mental health.
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson realizes
there is a stigma to discuss one’s
mental health, but hopes that can soon
be eradicated.
In recognition of Mental Health
Awareness Month, Gibson, Union
Community Health Center and local
nonprofi ts held a rally on May 13,
where they called for mental health
services for underserved communities
to be at the forefront of the city`s
COVID-19 recovery efforts.
“We may never know the full impact
of COVID-19 on our collective
mental health,” Gibson said.
Gibson noted that communities of
color struggled with depression and
mental health before the pandemic,
but the need to help them now is even
stronger.
She stressed that people should not
be afraid to talk about their mental
health.
The councilwoman touted Mayor
Bill de Blasio’s Mental Health for All
plan, which was announced in April.
In this initiative, New York City will
begin universal mental health support
at city vaccination sites, create a community
behavioral health academy
and launch a new Mental Health for
All website and public education campaign.
Looking to the future, Gibson
would like to see social workers, guidance
counselors and nurses in every
public school.
“Health care is a fundamental human
right,” Gibson exclaimed. “I
worry about those who have diagnoses
as much as I worry about those who
don’t.”
Mildred Casiano, the director of behavioral
health at Union Community
Health Center, understands the dire
need to address mental health. Casiano
pointed out that single women
have been drastically impacted by the
pandemic.
They may have lost jobs, had to
work from home or rearrange their
lives because of remote learning. Furthermore,
due to the stay at home order,
many were also isolated with their
abusers.
“Before this pandemic the prevalence
of mental health in adults was
surging,” she said. “During these
times it’s crucial that mental health
services are strengthened.”
SAGE is the country’s largest and
oldest organization dedicated to improving
the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) older
adults. David Vincent, chief program
offi cer at SAGE, explained that LGBTQ
seniors suffer twice as much from isolation
and as many as 31 percent battle
depression.
“The need for mental health services
are even more vital, more essential
especially now during COVID-19
due to the increased isolation brought
on by the pandemic,” he said.
Receive up to $9,500 toward the
purchase of your first home.
Eligible borrowers can receive up to
$9,500. Certain conditions and restrictions
apply. Program subject to change or
discontinuance without notice.
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