The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) today announced the implementation of “Coping Circles”
a first-in-the-nation program facilitated by the NYS Office of Mental
Health to provide free six-week support and resilience group therapy
sessions, held by video or phone and facilitated by licensed mental
health professionals.
OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan
said, “There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has made life more
difficult. Coping Circles will help us ensure that New Yorkers who are
struggling at this difficult time can receive the support and assistance
they need. I am deeply grateful to all the Mental Health professionals
who have answered Governor Cuomo’s call to help provide free services
to New Yorkers seeking help.”
New Yorkers interested in joining
Coping Circles, and mental health practitioners interested in becoming
facilitators, can register at NY.Gov/CopingCircles. Coping Circles is
available to all New Yorkers, ages 18 and older, in a range of languages
and at various times during the day. Specialized Circles will be
available for healthcare workers and first responders, survivors of
COVID-19 infection, those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, and
those who have experienced job loss due to COVID-19. Coping Circles
will be available between June 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020.
In-person group therapy sessions are
simply not possible in the midst of a pandemic. Coping Circles will
provide home-based support and resilience tele-group sessions to help
people who are feeling overwhelmed by the pandemic and want to discuss
and share their feelings.
During the early days of the pandemic,
Governor Cuomo asked medical and mental health professionals to
volunteer to serve New Yorkers in need. More than 14,000 mental health
professional volunteers responded. This group was surveyed to find
volunteers who are properly licensed to provide independent professional
mental health services in NYS, familiar with tele-services, and willing
to provide services free-of-charge.
To date, more than 750 professionals
have met the standards and have indicated interest in taking full
responsibility for one or more Circles (6 weeks of 60-minute groups)
free of charge, resulting in 1,200 possible Circles.
New Yorkers interested in participating in Coping Circles can access a website hosted by OMH on the secure and HIPAA-compliant Redcap server. Prospective participants will be asked to identify:
- Their preference for a video or phone group,
- Their preferred language;
- Their availability, and
- Whether they qualify for one of the
specialized Coping Circles, which will be opened if enough participants
indicate interest: Healthcare Worker or First Responder, Job Loss due to
COVID-19, Survivor of COVID-19 Infection, Loss of a Loved One to
COVID-19
Once six individuals have signed up
for a particular Coping Circle, OMH will forward their contact
information to a facilitator. Facilitators will participate in a short
Coping Circles Orientation webinar designed by experts from the Office
of Mental Health and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. The
webinar will include an overview of the psychological fallout of the
COVID-19 pandemic, goals of Coping Circles, principles of support and
resilience, psychoeducation, safety, and cultural sensitivity.
Source: The New York State Office of Mental Health
