Dear Friends,
As the spread of COVID-19 impacts our homes, workplaces, and communities, we all bear witness to the unfortunate parallel of anxiety and stress, over our individual lives and daily interactions. During calamity, our mental health can impact the decisions we make and even determine how we approach our relationships with co-workers, friends and family members. Now, more than ever, we must advocate for our children, bridge the gap to combat social distancing and protect the elderly and the most vulnerable. We can make a difference.
With tensions high, compounded by the influence of stressful media content, our nation needs the support of mental health professionals more than ever. In response to COVID-19, and in line with our commitment to social responsibility, we are providing phone and telepsychology services to help our community obtain short term supportive therapy. In addition, we are making referrals to therapists in our network, eager to volunteer during this challenging time.
Providing psychological services to those in need upholds our commitment to building community, and simultaneously provides a safe space for individuals to share their concerns and receive guidance. Even in crisis, our team has pulled together all available resources to cultivate the vision of “One GSAPP.” Our emotional response to COVID-19 continues to be compassionate, actionable and bound by an innate desire to help one another in spite of our own personal needs. Additionally, our team grows stronger in its capacity to provide quality academic instruction and clinical services, amidst these challenging times.
Throughout history, people from all backgrounds and cultures, have proven that the capacity to recover from adversity is achievable. As we move forward, we ask that you join our team in promoting resilience in our homes, remote workplaces, and online communities. In an effort to build the vision of “One GSAPP - Stronger Together” we are asking that you share your stories of hope and any articles or resources that will bridge the gap and promote well-being. Please use the hashtag #ONEGSAPP or #RUGSAPP on your media posts to promote this vision.
If you are interested in volunteering please visit,
gsapp.rutgers.edu/covid-19
. Please also join us for our special Virtual Cafes and Virtual Social Hours as they are announced on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Despite social distancing, we can still build meaningful relationships with our neighbors, co-workers, and friends. Join us.
Warm Regards,
Fran
Dean Francine Conway
