WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES FEBRUARY 11, 2021 13
In Queens, mental health support is all around you
BY SUSAN HERMAN
When you hear people talking
about whether ThriveNYC
should be cut — and with
political campaigns already heating
up, you might — know what that would
mean for Queens residents: cutting the
mental health support that’s all around
you.
Today, ThriveNYC programs are
on the ground providing innovative
mental health services in Queens,
from Astoria to the Rockaways and
from Ridgewood to Queens Village.
In fact, because of ThriveNYC, there
are more mental health services
available in Queens today than there
have ever been. The support comes in
many diff erent forms, and citywide, is
provided by nearly 200 communitybased
organizations that New Yorkers
know and trust. When you think of
ThriveNYC, think of them.
Think of Queens Community House,
which helps arrange visits and calls
between volunteers and isolated
older adults through a program managed
by the Department for the Aging.
Or think of any of the 10 Older Adult
Centers throughout Queens, including
Sunnyside Community Center and
the Theodora G. Jackson Center Adult
Center, where social workers are now
on staff to serve the mental health
needs of aging New Yorkers through
the Community Advisory Program for
the Elderly (CAPE).
In partnership with ThriveNYC
and the NYPD, Safe Horizon — the nation’s
leading victim services agency
— supports victims of crime in every
precinct in the city, including all 16
precincts and Police Service Areas in
Queens. The advocates off er counseling,
safety planning, advocacy and
practical assistance to anyone harmed
by crime, violence or abuse. More than
half are bilingual, so victims of crime
in Jackson Heights can receive support
in Spanish while Flushing residents
get help in Chinese. And because of
Thrive’s partnership, trusted community
organizations in Queens — like
Voces Latinas, Sheltering Arms and
CAMBA — are better equipped to address
the mental health needs of the
people they serve.
For Queens residents experiencing
homelessness, ThriveNYC has added
mental health counselors on site at the
12 city-run family shelters throughout
the borough. The same is true for the
residences and drop-in centers for
runaway and homeless youth. And the
Visiting Nurse Service of New York and
the Federation of Organizations operate
mobile mental health treatment
teams to provide ongoing care for New
Yorkers who live with serious mental
OP-ED
illness and have a history of justice
involvement and homelessness.
When you think of ThriveNYC, you
can also think of the services now available
for children and young people.
Through the Early Childhood Mental
Health Network, the Child Center of
NY off ers therapy and other services
for the youngest New Yorkers and
their families. And in 33 high-needs
public schools in Queens, social workers
from organizations like Queens
Geniuses, Commonpoint Queens and
the Southern Queens Parks Association
have been able to support students
through the most tumultuous school
year in memory.
You can find out more about all
of these programs through the
ThriveNYC website, which is updated
regularly with data on our reach and
impact.
With so many new services available,
it’s helpful to have a starting
point. Queens residents looking to
fi nd mental health support for themselves
or their loved ones can explore
ThriveNYC’s online guide, which includes
tips on coping with stress and
grief and links to services for aging
New Yorkers, young people, veterans
and more.
Additionally, any New Yorker in
need can call, text or chat online with a
trained counselor or peer support specialist
through NYC Well. The service
off ers crisis counseling and immediate
mental health support, referrals
to ongoing care, and, when needed,
mobile crisis teams of clinicians and
peers travel to provide assessments
and short-term care for people experiencing
a behavioral health crisis. NYC
Well is culturally and linguistically
responsive, with translation services
available in more than 200 languages.
When you think of ThriveNYC, think
of the critical services that Queens
residents and all New Yorkers rely on.
Think of the mental health support
that’s all around you.
Susan Herman is the director of the
Mayor’s Offi ce of ThriveNYC.
SNAPS
BLIZZARD AFTERMATH
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