Words matter. The Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition is working to end the stigma of mental illness and educate the community about how we speak about the issue.
Veterans and Mental Health
Veterans Day 2018 has come and gone. I am pleased with the last Newsletter edition that featured information on Veterans and hope that it may offer support for those veterans that may be struggling with their adjustment to civilian life.
Holiday Depression & Anxiety
Festivities, family reunions and joyful celebrations are all part of the holidays, but for many people, the holiday season can also bring anxiety and depression.
Spotlight: Holiday Depression and Anxiety. A Q&A with BryLin Behavioral Health System.
We recently spoke with Mark J. Nowak, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, about depression and seasonal affective disorder. Does your agency experience an increase in request for mental health services during the holidays? At BryLin Behavioral Health System,...
Help for Veterans
November is the month we honor the brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. Often experiences they have while serving our country can result in mental health challenges when they return home.
Spotlight: Veteran Mental Health. A Q&A with Compeer.
Many local veterans face significant mental health challenges. We reached out to Cheri Alvarez, chief program officer at Compeer, one of Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition’s founding members, to learn more. Q: What are some mental health issues faced by veterans? The...
Spotlight: The Mental Health Association of Erie County is now Mental Health Advocates of WNY.
The Mental Health Association of Erie County, Inc., a founding member of the coalition, recently announced it has changed its name to Mental Health Advocates of Western New York (MHA). From its inception in 1962, the agency has provided a comprehensive array of...
Looking After Your Mental Health By Using Mindfulness
The 18th year of Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place October 7th – 13th and the focus is stress. While stress is something we all may experience in our lifetime, when it becomes difficult to manage it can negatively impact our mental health....
Back to School: Helping Your Children Cope with the Stress and Anxiety
Children of all ages, in the Buffalo Niagara region, are headed back to school this week and while anxious feelings are normal and expected during times of transition or change, it’s important for parents and caregivers to make this transition as smooth as possible...
Spotlight: Suicide Prevention. A Q&A with Crisis Services
September 9-15 is National Suicide Prevention Week and in an effort to shed light on this stigmatized topic the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition shines a spotlight on member organization Crisis Services. Q: What is the rate of completed and attempted suicides in our...
Spotlight: Middle-age Depression. A Q&A with Jewish Family Services
Given the recent and tragic deaths of Anthony Bourdain , 61, and Kate Spade, 55, we reached out to Donna Possenti, VP of Clinical and Behavioral Operation for Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County, a founding member of the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition,...
Not just the baby blues? Postpartum Depression
A study out of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts suggests that having a baby in the summer could be linked to higher rates of postpartum depression. Of the hundreds of thousands of women who suffer from a postpartum mood disorder, only 15...
A letter from a community leader, Rev. Kinzer Pointer
Here we are, citizens of the United States of America and it is July of 2018. Our national conversation around mental illness is full of stigma and innuendo, we only discuss behavioral health each time there is a mass shooting. As a nation we would have you believe...
Minority Mental Health Month
In recent years there’s been more focus than ever before on mental health and the way mental health illnesses can affect our everyday lifestyles. One of the many remaining questions about mental health is this: do mental health...
Staying Mentally Healthy Over the Summer
For children, teens, and college students, summertime is associated with freedom from school and positive emotions. However, summer can also be a time where certain mental health issues need to be tended to even more than usual. Out of school...
Mental Health Awareness Month
One of the best ways to reduce the stigma is to learn more about mental illness and celebrate how that awareness can change lives. Separating the truth from the misconceptions can help increase awareness, understanding and acceptance for those living with mental...
Staying Healthy Over Spring Break
No matter how old we are, we all probably hear the term “spring break” and images of laid-back living in tropical locales pop in our heads. Summer vacations may conjure up family road trips and siblings crammed into the family car. Summer trips also...