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Emotional struggles are common but often not addressed because of the stigma surrounding these challenges. People in every community suffer with anxiety and depression but often do so in silence. In order to help combat such challenges and feelings of isolation, Touro Graduate School of Social Work is sponsoring “Mind your Mind,” the first-ever Lakewood Mental Health Awareness Day coming up on July 6. According to Miriam Turk, LCSW, Outreach Liaison & Recruitment Director, Jewish Community At the Touro Graduate School of Social Work, “It is unfortunate, but there are many negative attitudes toward those who have mental health conditions and this discourages people from getting the help they need. An awareness event such as this gives encouragement to those whose lives are impacted by mental illness and to their support circles of family and friends. Awareness events are a useful platform to help educate the general public about mental illness, thereby decreasing the stigma. Mental health struggles should never define a person. It is one part of their multi-faceted uniqueness. Asking for help emanates from a core strength, not a weakness. Awareness Day will send the necessary message that prioritizing one’s mental health is of key importance to living an emotionally satisfying life.”

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Touro College Graduate School of Social Work student Carol Weinstein sprang into action. The June graduate, single mother of two and volunteer coordinator at her N.J. synagogue concluded it was time to step up and seriously organize volunteers for those in need. “Bergen County was hit hard. There was a real spike at our hospitals. It quickly became clear we were going to have to deal with this differently" from other viruses, she recalls. Weinstein, who herself is immunocompromised with diabetes and asthma, mobilized fellow congregants to help the most vulnerable in her community. "It all sort of clicked, like a light bulb went off... We're really set to respond to this!” She got word out and requests for help started flowing, along with volunteers. They offered to shop for groceries, pick up prescriptions, run any kind of errand, and check in on the worried, fearful and isolated. #community #volunteer #goodneighbors #bergencounty #socialwork #socialworker #covid19

Touro College Graduate School of Social Work students Qiana Hobdy (left) and Tamminn Trail said that participating in LEAD expanded their notions of what social workers can do. "By becoming active in public policy, we can fight for change and become the voice of the voiceless," said Trail. #impact #community #advocate #lead #albany #policy #voiceofthevoiceless #voice #socialworkstudent #msw #futuresocialworker #socialwork #masterofsocialwork #tourosocialwork #tourogssw

This was the second year that social work student Eden Mitrany lobbied in Albany. "Advocacy is important because as social workers, we have to amplify our voices for the issues that are important to us and the communities we serve," said Mitrany of Long Beach, NY. "LEAD was the perfect opportunity to develop our advocacy skills while impacting the voting stances of policymakers in Albany. Thank you Touro for another out-of-the-class learning experience!" #socialworkstudent #wife #mom #lobby #advocacy #albany #futuresocialworker #mswstudent #msw #impact #policy #amplify #hearme #tourogssw