Beacon Center starts new program for front line health care workers experiencing mental health problems.

(Herkimer, NY 9/7/21) – Beacon Center is pleased to announce it has started a program for health care workers experiencing mental health issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Beacon Center, located at 210 S. Main Street in Herkimer, is a NY State program licensed by the Office of Mental Health.  The Front Line Program is open to any worker in the helping professions affected by COVID-19.  This program consists of group sessions paired with individual therapy and/or medication management if deemed appropriate.

For many working in the helping professions, this year has been a time of fear and uncertainty.  Stress levels have been high for many and risk of exposure, death and dying are everyday occurrences.  These everyday hero’s play a critical role in battling the pandemic, however they often experience their own mental health problems including trauma, grief, fear, depression and anxiety. As caregivers for others, these individuals find it difficult to cope and difficult to ask for help.

The goal of the program is to give those who have been immediately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic a discrete, confidential environment to discuss and process through their emotions and their individual lived experiences of the past year.  The group setting allows for the opportunity of the group members to offer each other support through their experience.  Topics will vary weekly but will all involve relevant areas of concern surrounding the emotional toll of the pandemic.  The group will be led by Hillary Kelly, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.  “We feel that having been in different facets of the medical field, Ms. Kelly has unique experience that group members could relate to and this may help facilitate more person-centered treatment for group members”, said Helen Burdick, Director of Program Operations.

Everyone from physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, counselors, and police, fire, and EMS workers would be eligible to participate in this program.  All services are confidential.

To Schedule an appointment, or if you would like more information on this program, please contact Helen Burdick, Director of Program Operations at 315-368-7633 or Jacqueline West, Chief Executive Officer at 716-602-9525.