Category Archives: Health: Mental Health

Mental Health Press Releases, bring us the latest cutting edge research, and therapies to help Mental Health in our modern society.

Health: Mental Health

Two Keynote Speakers Kick-Off the 2020 iaedp™ Symposium

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PEKIN, Ill. (PRWEB)

Each year for the past 33 years, the iaedp™ Symposium has delivered a program unmatched anywhere else in the world, providing an educational experience for healthcare professionals who treat those with eating disorders. And in 2020, the 34th iaedp™ Symposium will prove no differently by once again providing a program of over 100 presentations and networking events, a unique art competition and many other activities that make the four-day conference one of the most significant in the field of eating disorders treatment.

Slated for March 26-29 at the Omni at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Friday, March 27th will be an exciting kick-off with two keynote speakers scheduled to deliver their presentations.

At 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 27th, Sabine Wilhelm, PhD, is scheduled to present. Dr. Wilhelm is the Chief of Psychology and the Director of the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a Professor of Psychology (Psychiatry) at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Wilhelm is recognized as a leading researcher in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and tic disorders and has published 240 articles and reviews on cognitive functioning, prevalence and treatment outcomes of these disorders. She also has given more than 220 invited lectures and presentations on these subjects.

Dr. Wilhelm has published seven books on OCD, BDD and tic disorders. She has been a mentor to more than 40 junior investigators in the field. Dr. Wilhelm is the Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, and she serves on the Scientific Council for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America as well as on the Tourette Syndrome Association Behavioral Science Consortium. Dr. Wilhelm was an Associate Editor for the journals Depression and Anxiety and Behavior Therapy. She currently serves on eight editorial boards.

Scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on March 27 is John Levitt, PhD, CEDS, FAED, F.iaedp. Dr. Levitt has more than 40 years’ experience working with eating disorders, self-injury, trauma and the complex relapsing client. He has been an active participant in the fields of eating disorders, family therapy, and trauma as a clinician, consultant, program developer, supervisor/trainer, and presenter. He has taught widely, co-authored one book, co-edited three other books, and has numerous publications.

Dr. Levitt’s presentation, which will focus on understanding research and how to use measurement tools in the therapeutic process throughout treatment, will be introduced by Dena Cabrera, PsyD, CEDS, and President of the iaedpTM Board of Directors. Dr. Cabrera will share with the audience why iaedpTM believes that this topic is important for patients, providers and third party payors.

About the iaedp™ Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. MemberSHARE.iaedp.com is an iaedp™ business journal and online member resource to learn about noteworthy member achievements, continuing education webinars and U.S. and international chapter activity and events; for more information, visit MemberSHARE.

The Presidents Council provides iaedp™ support and includes: Center for Change; Center for Hope of the Sierras; Center for Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; Willow Place; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; McCallum Place Eating Disorder Centers; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral Health; Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders; Selah House; The Renfrew Center; Timberline Knolls; Turning Tides Eating Disorder Treatment Center; Veritas Collaborative; Focus Treatment Centers; Alsana Eating Disorder Treatment & Recovery Centers; and Silver Hill Hospital.

The 2020 iaedp Symposium is proud to announce Bronze Sponsor: ViaMar Health.

More information about all aspects regarding iaedp™ and its 2019 Symposium can be found at iaedp.com.

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Women Lead the Way at Embark Behavioral Health

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TEMPE, Ariz. (PRWEB)

With the recent promotions of several women to key leadership roles, Embark re-confirms its commitment to leading the industry in gender equality in the workforce. According to current statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 80% of the healthcare workforce is made up of women, while fewer than 20% currently hold key leadership roles. At Embark that number is 64% and rising.

“Embark embraces gender diversity as a critical component of organizational success,” said Alex Stavros, President and CEO of Embark Behavioral Health. “We believe in gender diversity not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the best thing for our company and our clients.”

Nicole Fuglsang is the new Chief Operating Officer of Embark Calo Teens and Preteens programs and the mother of two daughters and a son. “Gender inequality is something I have chosen to fight for my entire adult life,” said Fuglsang. “As a mother, I want to be an example of what it means to be a strong, confident, capable, and impactful servant leader. I am thrilled for this new role–not just to be recognized for many years of service to Calo, but to be in a position to be a strong female role model for my children.”

Leah Madamba, who was recently promoted to VP of Embark’s Potomac Programs division, said, “In the field of mental health where many of our clients, therapists, and front line staff are women, I believe it is especially important to have female voices and input at the highest levels, where the most impactful decisions are made.”

Stavros said Embark recognizes the role women play at every level every of the company, and believes healthcare organizations need to change their culture from the boardroom to the executive teams and throughout the organization. “We have to set the expectation, and be intentional about it. If we do, we know from studies and from experience that organizations that actively pursue gender diversity in leadership will reap benefits throughout, all the way to the top,” said Stavros. Currently, nine out of fourteen Executive Directors and program-level CEOs are women.

“I believe many traits women have lend themselves well to leadership, especially in our field,” said Nikki Garza, LCSW newly-announced Executive Director at Fulshear Treatment to Transitions. “Communicating, listening, empathising, being open-minded, multitasking; these are things women often excel in.”

According to a 2019 report from the global organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry, 64% of Healthcare executives surveyed said they believed their organizations would be more profitable with more greater gender parity in leadership, while 59% said they would experience less employee turnover.

“We need to recognize that while both men and women have strengths and bring amazing things to the table, female leaders are unique. Teams are strongest when they have multiple perspectives and leadership styles represented,” said Jeana Thomsen, new Executive Director of New Haven Residential Treatment Center. “I think it is especially important to allow women the space to lead differently than men. I’ve appreciated that I’ve been given the freedom to lead in my own style.”

“Though we’re proud of our current diversity, we can always do better,” said Stavros. “Our goal is to reflect our core values and have the very best people in every position.”

The Embark promotions include:

Nicole Fuglsang M.A., L.P.C., N.C.C., current VP of Business Development, was promoted to CEO of Calo Programs Teens and Preteens. As one of Calo’s original founders, Nicole has led in many capacities during her twelve years with the program.

Nikki Garza, LCSW, Executive Director of Fulshear Treatment to Transition, is the new Chief Executive Officer of Fulshear Programs. Nikki has worked as the clinical director for a young adult treatment centers, as a clinician at Utah State hospital, and in private practice.

Leah Madamba, MS, NCC, LPC, a 20-year veteran of the mental health field, was promoted to Vice President of Embark Potomac Programs. Leah was the former Director of Vive Family Services, and before that Vice President of Clinical Integration at InnerChange.

Jeana Thomsen, LCSW, ED is returning to Embark after stepping away to raise her three children. She returns as the Executive Director of New Haven Residential Treatment Center. She has experience as both a therapist and a clinical director.

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Health: Mental Health

Four Big Must-dos Before Deploying Your Bots

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Organizations need to look at multiple factors and ask questions for long-term RPA success


Atlanta, GA (PRWEB)

As adoption of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) goes more mainstream, enthusiastic yet unsuspecting businesses can fall victim to a potential number of bot blind spots.

“Think macro to micro,” says Will Funderberg, a director in Jabian Consulting’s Charlotte office. “There are some tasks at this stage of RPA usage that align perfectly with their utility. But before deploying anything, it’s essential to get a really good handle on a well thought out use and integration strategy to take advantage of what this technology can provide.”

To review, an RPA tool operates by mapping and mimicking the manual computerized processes humans do. The software bot follows computer pathways to access multiple applications to automate and perform rule-based tasks that are highly repetitive and labor intensive.

As presented on Jabian Consulting’s Strategy That Works Podcast, here are some key considerations to think about when implementing RPA:


  •     Think volume and value – High task volumes, customer touchpoints and value of a person’s time are where RPA will deliver the most value. Initially look for areas where task volumes are extremely high, such if a task is repeated thousands of times a month. For example, Finance loves RPA. Giving it back hours at the end of the month by helping them close books more quickly can be a significant win over time.

  •     Cost vs. time – Yes, RPA software and license costs can be pretty inexpensive. But utilization is almost less about the dollars and more about the ancillary impacts of time saved and maximized efficiencies. If a repetitive task only needs to be automated for six months, it might still make sense to deploy a bot. The cost of several weeks of set up could be quickly recouped through the greater efficiency of using a person’s time elsewhere.

  •     Look at the arc of use and deployment – “While a single use case can build interest, lack of due diligence over expanded deployments will create issues,” says Jed Manfull, manager with Jabian Consulting, Charlotte. Organizations need to look at multiple factors and ask questions for long-term RPA success, including:


o    What is our value proposition?

o    What and how many functions can be automated?

o    How are we going to integrate or interact with different business areas?

o    What is our governance structure going to look like?

o    How do we to scale up?

o    What does usage look like in five years?

  •     RPA ownership – Any department can take a manual repetitive task, load a bot on their desktop, and automate it. However, IT should know what’s going on to help with possible issues and oversee future applications. So, on the very front end of setting up an RPA capability, establish an understanding between who is using RPA and who will ultimately support it.

Delve deeper into the current state of Robotic Process Automation in Episode #2 of the Strategy That Works Podcast.

Strategy That Works Podcast features the best minds in management and technology. Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

About Jabian Consulting

Jabian Consulting is a strategic management and technology consulting firm with an integrated approach to creating and implementing strategies, enhancing business processes, developing human capital, and better aligning technology – ultimately helping clients become more competitive and profitable. Jabian blends functional expertise, industry knowledge, and senior experience to think strategically and act practically. It’s a Strategy that Works®.

For more information, visit http://www.jabian.com.

Contact

Robert Amberg, (678) 824-7372‬

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Health: Mental Health

Gloomiest Places in America – New Study Reveals Pacific NW #1

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Gloomiest Places in America

With a high Percentage of Cloud Cover, low Average Hours of Daylight, and many Days with Precipitation – Seattle and Portland are officially the Gloomiest Places in America.


PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB)

As we near the winter months, some areas of the country are affected by the changing seasons more than others. We’ve determined the Gloomiest Places in America, and the Pacific Northwest won’t be happy about it.

Topping our list at #1 and #2 are Seattle and Portland – both famous for their coffee shops and the 90’s “grunge” music genre that reflects this oft-oppressive feeling of Gloom.

Of the 50 largest metro areas, the top 10 Gloomiest Places are:

1. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

2. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

3. Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY

4. Cleveland-Elyria, OH

5. Pittsburgh, PA

6. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

7. Columbus, OH

8. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI

9. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

10. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

The data team at BestPlaces.net determined each metro area’s Gloom Score by looking at three key environmental factors for the months of November, December, and January:

  • Percentage of Cloud Cover

  • Average Hours of Daylight

  • Days with Precipitation


Also in the top 10 – Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and upstate New York can be bitterly cold and cloudy in the winter. As such, the list of Gloomy Places doesn’t hold too many surprises.

Alaska might come to mind as a gloomy place, and indeed country’s gloomiest counties are in that state. But those parts of Alaska (e.g. Juneau and Ketchikan) weren’t included in this study because they’re not in the 50 largest metro areas. Furthermore, some smaller metro areas like Fairbanks actually have less cloud cover in these months than one might expect.

The Danish concept of “Hygge” means making the most of these times of year by being cozy and partaking in activities that elevate mood – such as reading books, lighting candles, and playing board games with friends and family. For more on “Hygge” read our list of Top Hygge Cities.

If you live in a Gloomy Place you may be at risk for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), symptoms of which include feeling down, having low energy, and disruption of your sleep patterns. Although the specific cause of SAD remains unknown, reduced levels of sunlight can disrupt your circadian rhythms, reduce serotonin, and affect melatonin levels.

Therefore, it’s important to take active steps to counteract these tendencies. Exercise, healthy eating, light therapy, and regular social interaction are some of the basics. It’s normal to have “down” days, but if you have extended periods like this you should see your doctor.

Looking at the full ranking before, it’s not surprising to see famously bright places like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles coming up as the Least Gloomy Places. Oklahoma City and New Orleans are a bit unexpected, but maybe now they’ll find their way onto people’s lists when it’s time to beat the winter blues.

Click here for the full ranking of Top 50 Gloomiest Places in America.

About BestPlaces

With over 3 million monthly users, BestPlaces (http://www.bestplaces.net) is the nation’s premier source for finding your best place to live. Founded by author and researcher Bert Sperling over thirty years ago, BestPlaces helps users make informed decisions about where to live, work, and retire. Bert’s bestselling books “Cities Ranked and Rated” and “Best Places to Raise Your Family” are published by John Wiley & Sons and he was tagged as the “The Guy Who Picks the Best Places” by the New York Times. BestPlaces is responsible for more “Best Places” studies and research than any other single organization.

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Kokomo24/7® Solutions Achieves Public Sector Certification from AWS for Kokomo24/7’s K-12 Student Safety Platform

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Our goal is to expand our footprint in the education sector to help other school districts across the country embrace the benefits of cloud technology for better school safety.


CHICAGO (PRWEB)

Kokomo24/7®, a cloud-based school safety platform designed to help reduce K-12 student violence and youth suicides, today announced that it has earned AWS Public Sector Partner status. The AWS Public Sector Partner Program recognizes Kokomo24/7 as an innovative solution that can build, integrate and accelerate AWS product offerings to government, education and non-profit clients around the world. To achieve this recognition, Kokomo24/7 underwent a comprehensive assessment by AWS, including a review of current successes in delivering public sector cloud projects.

Kokomo24/7® Safety Cloud™ is a SaaS product that ensures safe learning environments for students and school faculty through an easy-to-deploy, intuitive student safety platform designed to give administrators, resource officers and faculty the proactive insight and visibility to reduce bullying, suicide, and other disruptive learning events. At the heart of Kokomo24/7 Safety Cloud™, is a proprietary A.I Engine that gives educators and resource officers years of analytical incident data to help determine the probability of unsafe student incidents for proactive intervention.

Through the collaboration with AWS, the two companies are building on an established relationship to deliver a scalable, highly secure, and innovative cloud services solution that will host the Kokomo24/7 Safety Cloud™ and help school districts improve student safety. The Kokomo24/7 PSP-level achievement with AWS also enables Kokomo24/7 to easily and cost-effectively distribute solutions through a flexibly priced subscription model. From small school districts to districts with more than 500,000 students, Kokomo24/7 on AWS can scale up or down to any school system size and help facilitate safer student learning environments

“With this certification, we are proud to have our experience in education recognized by AWS,” said Daniel J. Lee, CEO and founder of Kokomo24/7. “Our goal is to expand our footprint in the education sector to help other school districts across the country embrace the benefits of cloud technology for better school safety.”

The Kokomo24/7 Safety Cloud platform is modular and can be rolled out in a phased approach. The product line consists of three main student safety modules: an Incident Management System (IMS) for users internal to the school district; an Anonymous Reporting System (ARS) for both internal users and the system-wide community within the school district; and an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) module providing communications across schools, local governments and emergency responders.

Kokomo24/7’s IMS module learns from years of past student safety incidents and correlates the event data to provide actionable intelligence for district stakeholders to determine if there are any potentially unsafe student incidents so they can begin intervention protocols. IMS provides a proactive approach for schools and safety departments to respond to and recover from incidents in a repeatable methodology. With ARS, students, parents, faculty and communities can submit safety concerns from a mobile app or website portal powered by an A.I.-based TruScore™ scoring system. The data in TruScore is designed to help manage false positives and more precisely identify at-risk individuals and incidents. Kokomo24/7 EOC provides school emergency operations and safety officials with instant situational awareness so emergencies are thoroughly coordinated and managed with informed decisions.

Kokomo24/7 has deployed its Safety Cloud solution on AWS at the second-largest school district in America. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) uses Kokomo24/7’s Safety Cloud to provide district resources with scalable school safety solutions that have security to compliance standards, and the latest technologies built on AWS services.

About Kokomo24/7®

With deep public safety experience, Kokomo24/7® Solutions is the company behind a cloud-based safety platform that helps K-12 educators reduce unsafe student incidents to ensure higher quality learning environments. Kokomo24/7’s Safety Cloud™ platform consists of three modular and easy-to-deploy, intuitive safety solutions designed to help reduce bullying, suicide and other disruptive events in K-12. Incident Management (IMS), Anonymous Reporting (ARS) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) comprise the platform to bring to school district leaders unprecedented visibility to the safety and well being of their students. For more information on Kokomo24/7 Solutions, please visit http://www.kokomo247.com.

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MedMark Treatment Centers Opens Milford, Ohio Medication-Assisted Treatment Facility Serving Clermont and Hamilton Counties

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“MedMark can help those struggling with opioid addiction in these areas of significant need throughout Ohio. Our goal is to bring hope back to these patients and their families.”


MILFORD, Ohio (PRWEB)

MedMark Treatment Centers, a BayMark Health Services company, announced the opening of a new medication-assisted treatment (MAT) facility in the Cincinnati, OH suburb of Milford. MedMark Milford provides proven treatment for adults struggling with opioid addiction including medication, counseling and support services. The clinic, located at 749C State Route 28 in Milford, is now accepting patients.

“In 2017, of the 4,300 opioid-related deaths in Ohio, 488 were reported in Hamilton and Clermont Counties,” said Frank Baumann, COO of BayMark Health Services. “Medication-assisted treatment with substance use counseling provides patients with the best chance for sustained recovery from their addiction and the opportunity to reclaim their lives. MedMark can help those struggling with opioid addiction in these areas of significant need throughout Ohio. Our goal is to bring hope back to these patients and their families.”

MedMark Treatment Centers are known across the country as leading providers of high-quality, proven treatment for opioid use disorder utilizing treatment medications including methadone and buprenorphine. MedMark programs support the use of MAT with addiction counseling and education, relapse prevention, lab testing, coordinated care for pregnancy and linkages to community resources to assist patients in achieving long-term recovery. MedMark Milford is the fourth program BayMark has opened in Ohio in 2019 under the MedMark Treatment Centers service brand. Our mission is to provide comprehensive medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and other health care services to foster wellness, longevity and socially responsible behavior for the patients we serve.

David K. White, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, noted, “As the leader in providing specialized treatment for opioid use disorder, BayMark Health Services understands that patients benefit from access to a variety of proven treatment methods that meet them where they are at in their recovery journey. There is tremendous need across the country, but very few places have experienced devastation to the extent that they have in Ohio. BayMark has responded to that need by offering traditional structured medication-assisted treatment through our MedMark Treatment Services brand along with inpatient withdrawal management services by our New Vision brand and outpatient Suboxone® treatment through our AppleGate Recovery brand in Ohio.”

For more information on MedMark Milford and our services visit: http://MedMark.com or for admissions contact Meleah Naylor, Treatment Center Director, at 513.214.2094.

About BayMark Health Services:

BayMark Health Services provides medication-assisted treatment to 53,000+ patients in recovery from substance use disorder across the United States and Ontario, Canada. Our outpatient programs deliver medically-supervised treatment, in a variety of modalities and settings, to meet the diverse needs of our patients who struggle with the use of opioids, alcohol and other prescription and illicit substances. The BayMark continuum of patient-focused services includes: highly structured opioid treatment programs utilizing methadone or buprenorphine and outpatient buprenorphine treatment programs, both of which incorporate counseling as part of an individualized treatment plan for opioid use disorder. Additionally, ambulatory withdrawal management services with naltrexone therapy, and inpatient detoxification services are offered for a variety of substance use disorders.

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Health: Mental Health

Gulf Breeze Recovery on the Employment Risk Associated with Drug and Alcohol Abuse

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Counseling at Gulf Breeze Recovery

“Many of our guests started their journey to addiction using opioids that were originally prescribed for work-related injuries. Unfortunately, after the physical injuries healed, they were left with addiction.” Barnett Gilmer, Executive Director, Gulf Breeze Recovery


GULF BREEZE, Fla. (PRWEB)



A person’s employment may put them at higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse. A study completed with 293,492 participants using data collected from 2005 – 2014 to explore if drug and alcohol use varied between occupations. The results were recently published and show varying risks of substance use according to the occupation.

Tying for the first-place spot as the highest risk jobs for substance use or misuse are construction and extraction jobs such as blasting, boring, drilling or mining. Not surprisingly, these positions are considered higher risk jobs for injuries, and that in part, is why they are also at higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse. In these job fields, the most commonly abused substances are marijuana, cocaine, and non-medically prescribed opioids.

Workers at construction and extraction jobs are at daily risks of falls, over-exertion, or injuries from heavy equipment. Injury rates and fatalities are high. Much of the work is repetitive and basically hard physical labor. Self-medicating the job-related pain they suffer by using marijuana or opioids is common. In a catch 22, the use of marijuana or opioids puts them at even higher risk for work-related injuries, as well as accidental overdoses.

Research also shows that continuity of work can affect employee rates of substance use. Those who have regular schedules and don’t miss work are less likely to use substances than those who have sporadic employment where they miss shifts of work or have an unstable work schedule. Odds for opioid misuse doubled for workers who missed three to five days of work within a month due to injury or illness.

Employers can take steps to decrease drug and alcohol abuse on the job. Research has indicated that employees of companies with written drug policies are less likely to use cocaine. Workplace drug testing resulted in lower rates of marijuana use with employees. When workplace alcohol testing and drug screens are a part of the hiring process and termination from employment occurs from a positive drug test, fewer employees use marijuana.

Creating a fair and effective drug policy can be difficult since both opioids and marijuana may be used either as medically prescribed or recreationally. It is prudent, however, that substance abuse prevention and harm reduction programs are in place in companies where employees are working high-risk jobs to prevent both drug-related risks of injuries and accidents and to decrease overdose mortality with this high-risk population.

Barnett Gilmer, Executive Director of Gulf Breeze Recovery, a residential drug and alcohol abuse treatment facility in the Florida panhandle, stated, “Many of our guests started their journey to addiction using opioids that were originally prescribed for work-related injuries. Unfortunately, after the physical injuries healed, they were left with addiction. Helping them recover from that addiction is our job.”

About Gulf Breeze Recovery: Gulf Breeze Recovery is a holistic treatment center in Florida that is changing the future of treatment for drug and alcohol abuse with the THRIVE® program, which is focused on overcoming chronic relapse. Gulf Breeze Recovery’s THRIVE® program is a non-12-step approach and individualized designed for those who are looking for a drug and alcohol abuse treatment program to produce a different and positive result. This non-12 step program allows you to drive beyond your addictions and promotes a new outlook on life. For more information about our program or to speak with an Addiction expert, please call 855-973-3551 or contact us.

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Reservoire Health Launches Copeify, an Anonymous App for Student Health and Happiness

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Ana Bartkiewicz, Copeify Creator and Author of “Struggle Happy”

Young people and those who teach them need to increase their coping capacities and life-skill intelligence in a more regular and accessible way, with complete privacy.


HARTFORD, Conn. (PRWEB)

Reservoire Health, the veteran-backed health intelligence network today announces the immediate distribution of Copeify, a 100% anonymous self-care and life-skills application for high schools, colleges and universities. The machine learning application requires no student profile and is designed to help students and faculty grow their life-skills and coping capabilities, pursue happiness and health, and reduce frequency of depression, addiction and anxiety.

The unique model encourages adoption amongst a community that is sensitive to how they are perceived by others and provides a way to explore self-care without being judged. Copeify was originally conceived by a high school student as a way for her peers and teachers to anonymously receive daily notifications and content about nutrition, motivation, health and mindfulness. The use of anonymity to mobilize wellness and mental fitness intelligence goes against the grain of data-hungry networks like Facebook and Google who are getting into health tech with growing data privacy concerns.

“Everyone in school struggles, even faculty, because both life and learning are naturally challenging and competitive,” said Ana Bartkiewicz, inventor of Copeify and student at Miss Porter’s School. “I observed that these personal challenges of stress, identity and academics were quite universal to everyone, and that life-skills were actually available out there if we could find a better way to deliver them easily to the academic environment and without kids feeling the pressure to share anything.”

Copeify leverages the sciences of self-care skills and personal development, coupled with character and lifestyle tips, to help people in an academic environment thrive and improve their personal resilience. The national mandate for distributing life-skills and personal development has grown dramatically with the increased and historic rates of teenage depression, addiction, obesity and hopelessness.


  • 1 in 5 college students have anxiety or depression (Mayo Clinic)

  • Suicide rates have increased 56% from 2007 to 2017 (Centers for Disease Control)

  • 250 million children worldwide forecast to be obese by 2030 (WHO)

  • Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) impact 34% of a child’s health outcomes (HealthIT)

“Young people and those who teach them need to increase their coping capacities and life-skill intelligence in a more regular and accessible way, with complete privacy,” said Major General Malcolm Frost, U.S. Army Retired, the newest Advisory Board member of veteran-backed Reservoire Health. “Copeify provides a regular flow of life-skill tools specific to individual needs. This unique, intelligent and anonymous platform allows kids/young adults and faculty to meet and interact in the same channel so they can thrive in an academic environment.”

Copeify optimizes the 12 key components of resilience and readiness for navigating the years of adolescence and higher education. Without needing a profile or any personal information, Copeify delivers the motivation and means to help students and faculty thrive with:

  • Daily notifications on the aspects of coping and character, health and happiness.

  • Embedded articles and videos about healthy lifestyles, social skills and emotional intelligence.

  • CopeIQ meters that help one track experiential times for measuring their growth in coping skills.

The first version of Copeify beta is already being used by students and faculty in 17 high schools and colleges, such as Avon Old Farms, Miss Porters School, Harlem’s Renaissance School, Bentley College, West Point, Northeastern, Boston College and U Miami.

Copeify is now available to high schools, colleges and universities, and the organizations that support them. Reservoire and Copeify are subsidiary brands of Patriapps Veterans Software Studios.

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The Advocator Group, LLC Named Among Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts for Fourth Consecutive Year

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Julie Turpin, CEO of The Advocator Group, LLC

I truly believe that with enough hard work and determination, we all can achieve outcomes that go far beyond anything we’ve ever imagined.


WAKEFIELD, Mass. (PRWEB)

The Advocator Group, LLC, part of Brown & Brown Inc., is honored to be named among the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts as published in the Boston Globe Magazine. This recognition has been earned for the fourth consecutive year under the leadership of CEO, Julie Turpin, who has held this position since 2014.

The rankings for the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in each state are based on a variety of factors, including revenue, workplace and management diversity, innovation, creative thinking, and the number and growth rate of full-time employees. Turpin and the other honorees were recognized in a ceremony in Boston, MA on Friday, November 8, 2019.

The Advocator Group is a disability and Medicare advocacy firm serving individuals nationwide who are battling illnesses and injuries that keep them from working. Part of the company’s vision is to help as many people as possible, and Turpin drives the organization toward this goal while also equipping her team to assist with a wider variety of needs beyond Social Security disability insurance and the selection of a Medicare plan.

Under Turpin’s leadership, The Advocator Group made the strategic decision to refine its core values as well as its mission and vision statements in order to better reflect the evolving nature of the organization and to more closely involve teammates in achieving business goals.

“I am extremely honored to be named to this prestigious list for the fourth consecutive year,” Turpin states. “It’s my privilege to be able to use this platform to encourage and empower young professionals to set and strive after ambitious goals. I truly believe that with enough hard work and determination, we all can achieve outcomes that go far beyond anything we’ve ever imagined. I strive to instill this same type of thinking in my teammates, as we have opportunities to build relationships and change lives every day while we walk alongside individuals who are navigating some of the most difficult days of their lives. I’m proud of the work we do, and I look forward to seeing how we continue to grow and expand our customer service offerings and opportunities in the future.”

ABOUT THE ADVOCATOR GROUP

The Advocator Group, LLC is a nationwide advocacy organization dedicated to helping individuals apply for and obtain Social Security Disability Insurance. In addition, The Advocator Group assists Medicare beneficiaries in identifying the best coverage possible for their unique needs. The Advocator Group’s team of experienced Social Security and Medicare advocates ensures that each client is provided phenomenal service while each case receives close attention. The company’s core values include creating opportunities, enriching lives, and growing through innovation. For more information, visit http://www.advocator.com.

ABOUT BROWN & BROWN, INC.

Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm, providing risk management solutions to individuals and businesses. With Brown & Brown’s 80 years of proven success and thousands of teammates, we offer knowledge you can trust and strive to deliver superior customer service. For more information, please visit bbinsurance.com.

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Autistic Boy Inspires Children’s Book Series

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Our Family

Every story stems from something that has actually happened with a slight spin that is particular to Merlin


EXPORT, Pa. (PRWEB)

In his inaugural effort, author Frank Yeager has begun writing stories inspired by the unique way his son sees the world. Illustrated by Mr. Yeager’s childhood friend, Jude Rose Ickes of Scottdale, PA, it will be the first of multiple books featuring his son, currently an eight-year-old with high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder.

Merlin’s Magic World is intended to be a series of books that will take their inspiration from people and events that Merlin has actually interacted with. The first book Merlin Meets the Man in the Moon, focuses on Merlin’s obsession with the moon and stars and takes him on an adventure. Published under the imprint LCI Media, readers can expect a new book about every three to four months. “Having a child later in life is blessing enough,” Frank says. “It is truly wonderful to be able to rediscover the world through his eyes.”

Frank Yeager is a veteran, inventor, entrepreneur, and now author. His accomplishments can be seen on his website, http://frankyeager.net. Merlin is his son and the accomplishment of which he is the most proud.

Jude Rose Ickes is an artist who studied illustration at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She currently resides in the small town of Scottdale, PA with her husband and two children where she works as a freelance artist specializing in graphite portraits and children’s book illustration.

Merlin Meets the Man in the Moon is available for $12.97 directly from the author’s website (http://www.frankyeager.net/books/) or on Amazon. Booksellers and libraries can order through Ingram Spark.

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