“Student mental health initiatives should not merely be consigned to outside professionals, but should be embedded in school climate and culture so that students feel included and engaged,” said Amy Gallagher, Director of Special Services at Roxbury Public Schools.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (PRWEB)
May 10, 2023

Thrive Alliance Group, a nationally-recognized expert in fostering K–12 mental wellness, announces its presentation at the NJASA/NJAPSA Spring Leadership Conference happening May 17–19, 2023, at Caesars in Atlantic City. The presentation, Creating Academic Achievement Through Mental Health, will provide actionable strategies for school administrators to create a culture that supports students’ mental health and contributes to academic excellence. During the session, attendees will also learn from a New Jersey school district about how they have successfully implemented mental health services with practical takeaways to bring back to their school communities.

Mental health issues continue to impact students nationwide. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey revealed that 44% of high school students report experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness. In New Jersey, America’s School Mental Health Report Card found that 12.7% of children experienced a major depressive disorder in the past year; 58% did not receive treatment.

“The mental health of students is a growing concern that must be addressed in schools,” said Patricia Hovey, Executive Director at Thrive Alliance Group. “With 44% of high school students experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness, it is essential that we provide educators with effective tools to address the underlying causes of dysregulation, such as trauma, anxiety or depression. Creating a culture of support and care for students is critical for academic success, and our presentation will help administrators achieve that.”

The ratio of students to school counselors in the United States continues to narrow. Recent data shows it has reached the lowest point since the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) began tracking student-to-counselor ratios in 1986. In New Jersey, there is one school counselor for every 320 students. The recommended ratio is one school counselor for every 250 students.

“Student mental health initiatives should not merely be consigned to outside professionals, but should be embedded in school climate and culture so that students feel included and engaged,” said Amy Gallagher, Director of Special Services at Roxbury Public Schools. “A sustained commitment to school climate and culture paves the way for happier, more committed and more effective teachers, administrators and staff. As a bonus, district costs decrease when struggling students no longer need the help of expensive out-of-district programs.”

Thrive Alliance Group is committed to providing educators with the tools to promote student well-being. By offering professional development, workshops, coaching and certification, placement of on-site therapists and mental wellness accreditation, Thrive is helping schools create a positive school climate and culture.

Visit Thrive Alliance Group at booth #21 to learn more about its on-site services and stop by their presentation, Creating Academic Achievement Through Mental Health, on Thursday, May 18, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. Thrive will also attend the NJEA Convention on November 9–10, 2023.

To learn more about Thrive Alliance Group, visit https://www.thrivealliancegroup.com/.

About Thrive Alliance Group

A nationally-recognized expert in fostering K–12 mental wellness, Thrive Alliance Group helps educators create a positive school climate and culture by offering professional development, workshops, coaching and certification, placement of on-site therapists and mental wellness accreditation. At Thrive Alliance Group, our team has deep clinical expertise in mental health as well as decades of experience serving students, families, schools and districts. We believe training leads to empowerment that has a lasting impact and transforms the lives of students. Our team includes special services administrators, mental health clinicians and coaches, curriculum development professionals, licenses clinical social workers, teachers and more. To learn more about Thrive Alliance Group, please visit https://www.thrivealliancegroup.com/.

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ECINS Student Mental Health Survey Emphasizes Challenges for Adolescents During Mental Health Awareness Month

“As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial that we provide our educators and school personnel with the tools, resources, and collaborative technology they need to empower students and promote their mental health and well-being.” -Gary Pettengell, ECINS

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PRWEB)
May 09, 2023

ECINS, the global provider of a unique, collaborative, cloud-based case management system for schools, commemorates Mental Health Awareness Month at a critical time for student mental health.

Schools are increasingly on the front lines of this enormous challenge, and ECINS’ The State of Student Mental Health Survey highlights these trends. The expansive survey solicited input from school social workers, teachers, counselors, administrators, and other stakeholders working on the front lines with students to enable, empower and inspire their success.

The survey found that 85 percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that students seem more stressed and anxious than in previous school years.

Mental Health Challenges Are Expansive & Impact Academic Performance

These findings align with the most recent CDC data, which found that teenagers, especially girls, reported increasing mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the past year.

It’s also a continuation of a decade-long trend that saw a 40 percent increase in students reporting “feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness—as well as suicidal thoughts and behaviors.”

Meanwhile, a long-term analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found a sharp increase in mental-health-related visits to emergency rooms by children, teenagers, and young adults over the past decade.

In the ECINS survey, 89 percent of respondents saw a strong connection between students’ mental health and academic progress, a reality underscored by broad declines in math and reading test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly referred to as the nation’s report card.

More recently, national test scores in U.S. history plunged, with just 18 percent of eighth graders considered proficient.

Schools Are the Front Lines of Support

The ECINS survey found that students are often willing to share their struggles with a trusted adult, providing an opening for school social workers, teachers, coaches, administrators, and other stakeholders to help students receive the support they need.

“As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial that we provide our educators and school personnel with the tools, resources, and collaborative technology they need to empower students and promote their mental health and well-being,” said Gary Pettengell, co-founder and CEO of ECINS. “At ECINS, we are committed to helping schools navigate these complex issues by offering innovative, effective solutions that facilitate communication, streamline case management, and foster a supportive environment for all students.”

National Trends Indicate New Approach, Programs Needed at Community & School Levels

Understanding that hospital treatment centers are overburdened, including a devastating New York Times investigation that discovered hundreds of teenagers sleeping in emergency departments awaiting help, JAMA and other mental health professionals describe a “‘critical need’ to expand nonhospital treatment options,” including programs in schools.

Unfortunately, most school personnel feel unprepared to meet their multifaceted needs. ECINS’ survey identified technology as a solution, helping school personnel connect students to resources and support their growth and development.

As one respondent explained, “Collaborative technology exists and can assist [school social workers] to support more students.”

A proven, effective, and documented collaboration process can help improve outcomes, allowing teachers or other staff to quickly refer students to appropriate services and ensure they receive needed support. Technology solutions can help make the connection by tracking students’ progress, helping schools to better understand their needs and providing valuable data on the impact of intervention strategies.

ECINS HIPAA-compliant system helps provide that connection. This year ECINS and the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) joined forces to provide school social workers with collaborative case management that allows better communication and engagement between students and their support networks.

“When paired with other solutions, like universal screening, proactive counseling, and sufficient access to regular support services, we better support adolescents when they experience various mental health maladies,” said Pettengell.

To read the full report, click here.

About ECINS

Empowering Communities with Integrated Network Systems (ECINS) is the global provider of a uniquely collaborative, cloud-based student support and case management system dedicated to helping schools more efficiently and effectively implement and execute mental health support for students. The only solution of its kind endorsed by the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA), the ECINS Case Management System enables school personnel to assess, manage, record, report, and securely share essential information about students with key stakeholders across schools and districts — all on one HIPAA-compliant system designed specifically to meet schools’ unique needs. Learn more at ecins.com.

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We will simply be adding the new hybrid learning model, at a different price point, to make it more affordable and accessible for school communities, nationally and internationally, to incorporate Brain Power Wellness tools into their regular curriculum.

FOREST HILLS, N.Y. (PRWEB)
May 01, 2023

Brain Power Wellness, a holistic, school-based wellness organization, announces the launch of its new hybrid learning model. While all of the in-person services will continue to be offered, as Brain Power Wellness reviews, this new approach will enable the organization to expand its reach to a much broader range of school communities both nationally and internationally. The hybrid learning model has become commonplace in education, largely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brain Power Wellness’ vision is “to elevate humanity’s collective consciousness by promoting equitable, embodied, experiential holistic wellness for a joyful, harmonious and sustainable world.” This innovative new learning model will help the organization achieve its goal of working with thousands of schools worldwide, offering its services, trainings, and tools to as many students, teachers, administrators, staff members, and parents as possible.

Brain Power Wellness offers many in-person services, such as Brain Power Wellness retreats, class visits, staff wellness sessions, and teacher workshops, to its partner schools in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. However, the organization recognizes the need to provide schools outside its in-person model with easy access to its training and tools. This is where its new hybrid learning model comes into play.

“Our company will always provide in-person services,” explains Rebecca Wheaton, District of Columbia & Maryland Field Coordinator for Brain Power Wellness. “Our company won’t be changing what we are currently doing. We will simply be adding the new hybrid learning model, at a different price point, to make it more affordable and accessible for school communities, nationally and internationally, to incorporate Brain Power Wellness tools into their regular curriculum.”

The current learning model provides in-person training, classroom visits, and physical materials, based on a per-teacher price point. The new hybrid model will allow schools to receive Brain Power Wellness’ professional development training (live, online, and asynchronistically) for their entire staff, with the purchase of just one package. In addition, schools can contract for virtual classroom visits, parent workshops, and staff wellness services, all with experienced Brain Power Wellness instructors. Schools can obtain virtual materials through this new model while also ordering physical materials separately

The new Brain Power Wellness hybrid learning model has three tiers of services. The first tier, which has a very accessible price of $1,995 for the entire school, involves training for every staff member in a given school. It includes one live online session with a senior instructor and ongoing trainings and examples of how to lead a classroom.

The second and third tiers include additional services, such as the option to train and certify teachers and school leaders as Brain Power Wellness instructors. By training teacher leaders, the school’s long-term ability to sustain the program is more promising as they play a crucial role in fostering program growth across the entire school.

While schools can register now for the new Brain Power Wellness hybrid model to gain preliminary access to online community resources, the final steps of the program are still being finalized. Live online sessions will be able to be scheduled by the end of May.

For more information on the new Brain Power Wellness hybrid model, and to request a free consultation, email the organization at contact@brainpowerwellness.com, or fill out the contact form on its website, http://www.brainpowerwellness.com.

Brain Power Wellness reviews its services consistently to ensure it is meeting the current needs of its school communities, and this will encompass the new hybrid learning model as well.    

About Brain Power Wellness

Brain Power Wellness is a holistic, school-based wellness organization that supports healthy, happy, and focused school environments. The mission of Brain Power Wellness is to help transform the culture of its partner schools through self-development, mindfulness, community building, retreats, SEL, holistic wellness, and brain training for teachers, students, parents, and administrators. Recently, corporate groups have begun attending Brain Power Wellness retreats, where participants receive powerful tools for creating healthy, sustainable, and happy work environments.

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South County Psychiatry

We couldn’t be more excited about having Dr. Zimmerman join SCP as director of our psychiatric programs and the Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program that we will be opening in May.

CRANSTON, R.I. (PRWEB)
May 01, 2023

South County Psychiatry (SCP) would like to welcome Dr. Mark Zimmerman to South County Psychiatry as Chief of Ambulatory Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Dr. Zimmerman received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, and his medical degree from Chicago Medical School—where he graduated first in his class. He completed his postgraduate training at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and he held an academic appointment as assistant professor at the same time he was a resident in psychiatry.

Dr. Anthony Gallo, the President of South County Psychiatry, said, “We couldn’t be more excited about having Dr. Zimmerman join SCP as director of our psychiatric programs and the Director of the Intensive Outpatient Program that we will be opening in May. He is globally renowned as a thought leader in both psychiatric diagnosis and outcomes. Without hesitation, I can say that with him onboard, we will be able to compete with the best programs nationwide.”

Dr. Zimmerman is board certified in psychiatry and is professor of psychiatry and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He was the director of the Rhode Island Hospital Partial Hospital Program for the past nine years, and he was the director of the Rhode Island Hospital Outpatient Practice for over 25 years. Under his leadership, the partial hospital program successfully transitioned from an in-person to a virtual program, and published the first studies demonstrating that partial hospital telehealth treatment was as safe and effective as in-person treatment.

Mr. Jim Florio, Jr., the Chief Operating Officer of South County Psychiatry, said: “It’s an honor to be able to collaborate with Dr. Zimmerman as I consider him one of the best psychiatrists in the world. Under his leadership as Chief of Ambulatory Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, we will be creating state-of-the-art programs that will be delivered far and wide.”

In addition to his clinical and administrative roles, Dr. Zimmerman has been an active researcher—one of the most widely published researchers in psychiatry, with more than 500 articles and book chapters. For his research, he has won numerous awards and, most recently, was the Personality Disorders section editor for the revision of DSM-5. Through the years, Dr. Zimmerman has been interviewed on NPR and quoted in several publications, including People magazine and U.S. News and World Report.

About South County Psychiatry

South County Psychiatry is a full-service outpatient psychiatric practice. The clinic is staffed by psychiatrists and psychologists who specialize in treating a variety of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The clinic offers individual therapy, medication management, and couples counseling. South County Psychiatry has 5 locations in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Rhode Island:

420 Scrabbletown Road, Suite A

North Kingstown, RI 02852

401-268-5333

47 Danielson Pike

North Scituate, RI 02857

401-895-7897

1170 Pontiac Avenue

Cranston, RI 02920

401-500-0424

Massachusetts:

50 N 2nd St #1

New Bedford, MA 02740

617-671-0728

Connecticut:

19 Halls Rd #234

Old Lyme, CT 06371

959-666-3777

To learn more about South County Psychiatry, visit https://www.southcountypsychiatryri.com.

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Even though 71% of people who offer unsolicited advice recognize that their behavior is annoying, it doesn’t stop them from doing it.

Unwelcome advice-givers are generally well-meaning, but they fail to recognize the fine line between courtesy and intrusiveness.

MONTREAL (PRWEB)
April 29, 2023

They’re everywhere. In your local shopping mall, in the comment section of your social media posts, perhaps even in your own family. It’s those self-proclaimed “experts” or professedly well-meaning people who feel the need to tell you how to do a task, raise your children, or live your life. They answer the questions that no one asked, and offer advice on non-existent problems. Why do people feel the need to offer their unsolicited opinion? Researchers at PsychTests shed some light.

Analyzing data collected from 9,041 people who took the Social Skills Test, PsychTests’ researchers singled out two distinct groups: people who frequently offer unsolicited advice (“Busybodies”) and those who don’t (“Non-Meddlers”). Here’s what their study revealed:

NOT SURPRISINGLY…

> 70% of Busybodies get so caught up in what they have to say that they don’t notice the reaction of their listeners (compared to 10% of Non-Meddlers).

> 25% don’t consider how their words or actions will affect others (compared to 7% of Non-Meddlers).

> 71% said that they frequently say or do things that upset others (compared to 6% of Non-Meddlers).

> 55% indicated that they do most of the talking in conversations (compared to 10% of Non-Meddlers).

> 65% talk mostly about themselves (compared to 14% of Non-Meddlers).

> 65% will interrupt a conversation if they believe that they have something important to add (compared to 19% of Non-Meddlers).

> 28% are blunt rather than tactful if asked for an honest opinion (compared to 12% of Non-Meddlers).

> 28% are not comfortable admitting when they are wrong (compared to 8% of Non-Meddlers).

> 21% will continue discussing a controversial topic even if it is upsetting to someone in the group (compared to 10% of Non-Meddlers).

SURPRISINGLY…

> 75% of Busybodies are uncomfortable sharing their feelings (compared to 34% of Non-Meddlers).

> 15% are stubbornly unforgiving (compared to 5% of Non-Meddlers).

> 75% have a tendency to snap at others when stressed (compared to 24% of Non-Meddlers).

> 61% admitted that they don’t usually get a warm reception when they pay friends a visit (compared to 8% of Non-Meddlers).

> 73% will move ahead with a decision without consulting the people who will be affected by it (compared to 21% of Non-Meddlers).

> 48% can’t keep a secret (compared to 29% of Non-Meddlers).

If they received praise for an achievement that they attained with the help of others, only 55% of Busybodies would share the credit (compared to 76% of Non-Meddlers).

“Unwelcome advice-givers are generally well-meaning, but they fail to recognize that fine line between courtesy and intrusiveness,” explains Dr. Ilona Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “What’s more is that our study picked up on something that may point to why they offer unsolicited advice: a fear of admitting mistakes. So rather than examining their own faults, they try fix other people’s. In addition, the fact that 75% of Busybodies are uncomfortable sharing their emotions is telling, because it means that they don’t like turning their attention inwards, so they direct it outwards.”

“Here’s the bottom line if you’re a meddling Karen: before offering your opinion, especially if you haven’t been asked for one, engage in some self-examination. Why do you feel the need to offer your two cents? Why are you sticking your nose in someone else’s business? Do you really want to help, or are you craving validation? Be honest with yourself. Engaging in a little self-examination can save you from a lot of embarrassment, and might even prevent an unnecessary conflict. And you won’t be called a ‘Karen’.”

Want to assess your social skills? Check out the Social Skills Test at https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3130

Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

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“While the COVID Public Health Emergency is ending, we have a far ways to go to properly care for the mental health of Americans. We’re focused on eliminating barriers to care through empowering providers, accepting all forms of insurance, and assisting patients in their mental health journey.”

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
April 27, 2023

Grow Therapy, a provider-centric mental health group improving access to high-quality mental healthcare, today released the findings of its annual state of mental health report. The national survey of Grow Therapy’s Provider Partners reveals trends therapists are seeing among their patients and insights into the challenges and benefits of running a private practice.

“While the COVID Public Health Emergency is ending, we have a far ways to go to properly care for the mental health of Americans,” said Jake Cooper, CEO and Co-Founder of Grow Therapy. “We’re focused on eliminating barriers to care through empowering providers, accepting all forms of insurance, and assisting patients in their mental health journey.”

Key findings from this year’s report:

• 
  The number of people seeking therapy is on the rise, with 83% of therapists saying they have seen an increase in patients seeking therapy for the first time this year.
• Just over a third (34%) of therapists say that anxiety or stress is the most common reason their patients are seeking help. Other common issues bringing people to therapy this year are depression (15%), trauma (9%) and romantic relationship issues (8%).
• With the current state of the world, therapists say that news (99.6%) and social media (100%) consumption can have a negative impact on mental health.
• Millennials, those aged 27-42, are the most likely to be in therapy currently, with over half (53%) of therapists saying that group makes up the majority of their client base.
• In continuing to fight the stigma of seeking professional help for mental health issues, about half (47%) of therapists said that open and honest conversations with family and friends/peers, including on social media, is the key to normalizing therapy. Others agreed that likening mental health to physical health (24%) and offering increased education through PSAs and in schools (14%) were also important.
• Therapists are most likely to recommend exercise (23%) and time with loved ones (22%) to improve mental health outside of therapy, followed by spending time in nature (17%), meditation or spending time alone (16%) and joining a support group (11%).
• Offering advice to people going to therapy for the first time, therapists said that it was important to find the right therapist (15%); be open to the process (14%); remember that therapy takes time (14%) – with 87% of therapists saying that tangible outcomes from therapy can take anywhere from 2-10 sessions in most cases; and that it’s important to set goals for what you want to get out of the therapy process (13%).

The report also looked at how therapists feel about running a private practice:

• Therapists say that access to care remains an obstacle, including the ability for providers to accept insurance to help cover out of pocket costs for patients (10%).
• Therapists say that the biggest benefit of running a private practice is reducing time spent on administrative work (24%) and having more time to focus on meaningful work (23%), professional development (14%) and their personal life (18%).
• Therapists say that the biggest opportunities for their practice this year are managing their own schedule to allow for more work-life balance (23%) and growing their practice to reach more patients (22%).

Grow Therapy offers a marketplace for patients to find the right therapist, with the ability to filter via insurance type, state, areas of specialty, gender, virtual or in-person sessions and availability. The therapists available on the marketplace partner with Grow Therapy to receive dedicated admin support like, billing and credentialing plus access to a telehealth platform, custom-built EHR, private peer community and discounted health insurance.

For more information on Grow Therapy’s 2023 state of mental health report, visit growtherapy.com.

About Grow Therapy:

Grow Therapy is a provider-centric mental health group, using technology to make high-quality mental healthcare accessible and affordable to all Americans. Grow Therapy provides therapists with a suite of business tools and services, peer community, and pipeline of expertly matched patient referrals so that they can set up and grow thriving in-person and virtual private practices, within the communities they care about most. As a result, more Americans are accessing a wide variety of therapists who not only best match their needs, but who take their insurance. Grow Therapy’s network includes more than 6,000 therapists and works with major insurers including Humana, Aetna, Cigna, Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. Some of Grow Therapy’s key investors include TCV, Transformation Capital, and SignalFire. More information about Grow Therapy can be found at http://www.growtherapy.com.

Methodology

The results of this report are from a national survey of Grow Therapy’s Provider Partners conducted from February 28, 2023 – March 22, 2023. There were 266 responses from therapists in different states, with different titles, specialties and years of experience.

The goal of the survey was to get insight into their experience and observations as therapists on the state of mental health in America in 2023.

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