April 8, 2020

A message from our CEO, Jill Wiedeman-West

Our world as we know it has changed in a matter of weeks. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect so much of our lives, we’re facing what may be the greatest public health challenge of our generation. Whether we’re staying home as much as possible or serving our community as an essential worker, the concerns and impact can be felt in so many ways: physically, mentally, socially and financially.

Even under ordinary circumstances – if there is such a thing – I’m fond of saying, “we all have mental health.” We all have ups and downs, many need extra support from time to time, and some need ongoing help managing these conditions. Now, COVID-19 is affecting work environments and our daily lives across our nation and world. Remaining resilient amid the stress, anxiety, and worry can be as challenging as adjusting and accepting our “new normal.”

That’s why I’m proud that the People Incorporated Training Institute is offering a free Resiliency Skills Amid COVID-19 online class to support our community. My colleagues at the Training Institute developed this unique curriculum very quickly as it became clear that the circumstances around COVID-19 would be stressful for many, many people. The class is open to the general community, as well as professionals who are looking to earn CEUs, and the goal is to teach practical solutions and skills for improving and building resiliency through uncertainty. 

For the clients we serve at People Incorporated Mental Health Services, the stressors are even more pronounced. For those living with mental illness, the isolation and uncertainty that come with this crisis can exacerbate conditions, and for many of our clients, concerns about housing and access to medical care for coexisting conditions are additional worries. We are offering telemedicine mental health assessment, therapy, and case management appointments to ensure we can meet clients’ mental health needs during this difficult time; call Central Access at 651-774-0011 to get started.  

We will continue to do what we can amidst this crisis to help and to partner with others in mental health, health care, social services and at the community level to face this unprecedented challenge together.