COVID-19 PROGRAM UPDATES
TBCC
School Year 2020-2021
• Trinity Boston Counseling Center (TBCC) supported 12 City Year Americorps members through Teletherapy this year.
• TBCC is ending a 3 part Racial Identity Development in Clinical Work training, focused on clinicians who work with youth of color, especially but not exclusively youth in the juvenile justice system. The training is a very unique offering, and they’ve been getting great feedback, including requests for follow up sessions. The last training is June 30.
• TBCC was also awarded the Cummings Foundation grant in May 2021 to support and expand their operations.
Trinity Boston Counseling Center (TBCC) continues its healing clinical care for 58 clients through weekly and bi-weekly Telehealth sessions. All TBCC services remain pro-bono or offered at a reduced fee. TBCC continues to strengthen its partnership with Department of Youth Services (DYS), supporting their youth workers along with their JDAI Youth Committee. TBCC’s intern training program, with its weekly trainings in clinical practice and TBC’s 3 ECP’s, welcomed two new interns and is currently accepting applicants.
ARCHIVED
4/24/20
We’re thrilled to share that TBCC Psychiatric Consultant, Dr. Xenia Bhembe Johnson and Oversight Committee member, Dr. Charmain Jackman, Ph.D were recently featured on WGBH’s Basic Black! The episode explored racial disparities and COVID-19; click the image to view it now.
4/1/20
As mental health providers we are considered essential staff during health emergencies like COVID-19. Therefore, we have strengthened our connection, access, and services to our clients through the use of Teletherapy. As a result some of our therapy, clients have either increased or maintained their services from us. We are grateful that our clients see us as a resource during this time of COVID-19 and we are here for them and our community. Also note that we have added Teletherapy training to our interns experience with us. Please continue to reach out to us (contact@trinityconnects.org) as a resource. Here are some additional resources below:
We have launched our Telehealth platform and have been able to sustain our clinical caseload with minimal interruption.
• Fielding Requests: We have been receiving requests from current partners, former partners and potential partner organization to provide virtual support groups for their youth worker staff.
• We have begun launching groups with City Year and are in conversation with two other youth serving organizations in how to support staff
We are developing wellness recordings for DYS youth and staff in lockup facilities. Staff have requested a support space, so we are working with the department to coordinate an opportunity for the metro region.
Our Clinical interns are amazing! Every academic institution has essentially given their students to option to opt out of field placements for the remainder of the semester. Because we are able to provide Telehealth services our interns are able to continue with their clients. All of our interns have chosen to continue to support their clients through the duration of the academic year as planned. We have continued to provide supervision and training for our internship program and we are increasingly grateful for their commitment to their clients and the organization!
additional mental health resources
Need help now?
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line. – There website has great resources that includes support around the Coronavirus.
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center – Provides direct services in Spanish and in other languages when requested
Disaster Distress Helpline - Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S. experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including public health emergencies.
Online Teletherapy Therapy Services
Commonwealth Associates, Inc. (Boston based)
Mental Health America: Mental Health And Covid-19 – Information And Resources - A comprehensive list of mental health, crisis care, self-care and community care resources around COVID-19 for the general public, parents, caregivers, and mental health workers.
Financial Support – COVID-19 Ancillary Costs
The HealthWell Foundation just announced a COVID-19 Fund that provides up to $250 in assistance with ancillary costs associated with COVID-19. Grants awarded through the fund will provide reimbursement assistance to at risk or quarantined individuals for delivered food, medication, Telehealth copays and transportation costs associated with COVID-19.
From the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
Maintaining Emotional Health & Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Resources and tips to help boost emotional health and well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Taking care of your emotional health and well-being during this time is important. Decreasing stress can help bolster your immune system and can help keep you and others around you healthy. Below are a list of resources and tips for staying emotionally healthy and well.
Tips to help you manage anxiety, put news reports in perspective and maintain a positive outlook. Five Ways to View Coverage of the Coronavirus
Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety
In this podcast episode, psychologist Baruch Fischhoff, PhD, explains why we worry about new risks more than familiar ones, how to calm our anxiety and what are the psychological effects of being quarantined.
Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.
Feeling Anxiety About Coronavirus? A Psychologist Offers Tips to Stay Clearheaded
Looking After Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Outbreak
From Mental Health Community led and Peer support networks
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)’s Online Support Groups
Lyf App - Lyf is a social media app where users share highly personal aspects of themselves without the fear of judgment. It’s the one app where you can be yourself or write anonymously and people won’t degrade or bring you down.
Warmlines - Unlike a hotline for those in immediate crisis, warmlines provide early intervention with emotional support that can prevent a crisis. The lines are typically free, confidential peer-support services staffed by those who have experienced mental health conditions themselves. Find a warmline in your area at warmline.org. Massachusetts line 1-877-733-7535
This is My Brave is a non-profit whose mission is to mission to end the stigma surrounding mental illness through storytelling. https://mailchi.mp/thisismybrave/2020-mar23?e=81209e7385
Bake your mind off it! with the Depressed Cake Shop - Are you planning to bake any goodies while distancing yourself at home?
We want to see your creations! Tag us on Facebook or use the hashtag #BakeYourMindOffIt on Instagram or Twitter and check out the amazing Depressed Cake Shop for more goodies!
RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND FAMILIES
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
This resource provides information for parents and caregivers about outbreaks, how they can prepare to reduce stress and anxiety, how it may affect your family both physically and emotionally and ways to cope.
Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
A resource for children about Coronavirus, what it is and how to protect oneself.
Talking to Teens and Tweens about Coronavirus
This article details advice from experts on how parents can help teens be prepared and have the right information about the Coronavirus.
National Association of School Psychologists’ Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource
Talking to Kids about COVID-19
Cómo hablar con los niños sobre el coronavirus
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource
Supporting Kids During the COVID-19 Crisis
How to Avoid Passing Anxiety on to Your Kids
Talking to Kids about Fear and Violence
The Parent Guide to Resilience
List of Live Webcams, Virtual Tours, and Virtual Field Trips
Scholastic Learn at Home Free Resources
Smithsonian Distance Learning Resources
Virtual Field Trips from Discovery Education
Free Learning Resources from Lakeshore Learning Materials
List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings
Resources For Caregivers
Caregiving for a Person with a Mental Illness
Care for Caregivers: Tips for Families and Educators
National Alliance for Caregiving
Xenophobia & Coronavirus
Let’s be diligent, aware and woke in how this is impacting Asians and Asian American adults and children
When Xenophobia Spreads Like a Virus – NPR
When an Asian-American student coughs in class, cue fear and xenophobia
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