JPS Director of Student Support Services Chad Bongiovanni

There is a high demand of students in mental health crisis in the Jamestown Public Schools District.

JPS Director of Student Support Services Chad Bongiovanni, presenting to the Jamestown School Board, said 1 in 6 children in the United States ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health condition a year, “About half of those youth with mental health conditions receive treatment in the past year. School-based and school-linked mental health services reduce barriers to needed treatment and add supports, especially for under-served communities. So that is national data here in the United States. What we know is that in high need communities, such as Jamestown, that data is likely far worse.”

Bongiovanni said if the math of 1 in 6 students experiencing a mental health condition was applied to Jamestown, that would be around 800 students a year.

He said the district contracts with community agencies, such as Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, Family Service of the Chautauqua Region, and The Resource Center to help provide behavioral health services.

Mental Hygiene Program Coordinator Tom Fadale said they have staff at Bush and Washington Schools and serve approximately 90 students a year, “So those clinicians that are at each school can offer a full range of social work services for those students. If they have further needs, they’re linked already to the Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene clinic so they can get further services or they could coordinate with the student’s already existing clinician or PCP.”

Family Service Clinical Director Julie Chipman said Family Service provides counseling services to between 240 and 270 students a year at Jamestown High School, and at Persell, Ring, Love, and Fletcher schools, “We also provide family intervention, crisis support services, and coordinating care with the other providers. And because we do not have a psychiatrist within our service, we also coordinate with the clinics – Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, The Resource Center, and UPMC Behavioral Health, as well as family doctors to be able to work with them on medications, if they’re needed and when they’re prescribed.”

The Resource Center Director of Behavioral Health Kate Curtis said TRC typically serves between 50 to 75 students a year at the high school.

She said the staff member assigned there took another position and that the new person will be starting in October, “We were awarded a grant through OMH (Office of Mental Health) to open a satellite clinic which we decided to open up at the Tech Academy. We’re hoping by the end of this year we’ll also be able to provide services for social work and out-patient mental health services at the Tech Academy. Right now, we’re accepting referrals, but we’re really kind of looking at starting new.”

Bongiovanni said early intervention is key with providing all student social-emotional learning as well as access to a guidance counselor and psychologist. He said staff needs to be trained in the “look fors,” “One training I just became certified in over the summer was youth mental health first aid. And that’s something we are, that I’m turn-keying with our behavioral support staff. And the biggest take away from that is being able to identify those in need. It’s not about diagnosing. It’s not about actually treating, but it’s helping people to understand those signs, those indicators.”

School Board President Paul Abbott requested the group provide an update on behavioral health in the schools in the Spring.

The Department said a traumatic event can affect someone emotionally, physically, and mentally. Fear and anxiety about a traumatic event can overwhelm and cause strong emotions. Staff emphasized that these feelings are normal and that everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.

If you have seen or been through a traumatic event, Mental Hygiene offers the following tips that may be helpful:
– Talk to someone. Talking about it may feel uncomfortable, but it may help you feel better. Talk to friends, your partner, family, or a counselor. Talking about it is a step toward healing.
– Keep active. Physical activity is an excellent way to reduce stress. Go outside and get some fresh air.
– Do something that brings you joy. Spend time with your pets or get away to a spot where you feel your best.
– Eat well and get enough sleep to feel rested. Feeling physically healthy can help you feel emotionally strong.
– Avoid using alcohol or drugs as a way of coping.
– Avoid social media doom scrolling, and news broadcasts where messaging may be triggering.

If you are interested in receiving help for yourself or someone you are concerned about, community resources are available here:

Community Resources:
· Chautauqua County Crisis Hotline: 1-800-724-0461, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
· Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene Mobile Crisis Team : (716) 363-3684 available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ;
· Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Jamestown: (716) 661-8330, Dunkirk: (716) 363-3550;
· UPMC Chautauqua Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, Dunkirk: (716) 363-0018, Jamestown (716) 664-8641;
· The Resource Center Mental Health Services, Jamestown: (716) 661-1590, Dunkirk: (716) 366-7660;
· Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County, Support and Linkages: (716) 661-9044;
· The Chautauqua Center, Jamestown: (716) 484-4334, Dunkirk (716) 363-6050;
· Family Service of the Chautauqua Region: 1-888-358-3899;
· NYS HOPEline , telephone support and referral line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to treat addictions. Text or call: 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369);
· National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988;
· Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any crisis;
· Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website www.SAMHSA.gov can provide additional information and resources for mental health care. Their national Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Family Service of the Chautauqua Region, located at 332 East 4^th St. in Jamestown, offers family-focused mental health therapy to the greater Chautauqua region.

“The office is closed for clinical business but administration continues to facilitate all forms of correspondence and coordination with all of our staff for our clients and partners,” said Julie Chipman, Director of Clinical Services. “Patients are being seen through telehealth appointments, new and routine referrals within two weeks, and sooner for urgent or crisis referrals.”

For more information about Family Service of the Chautauqua Region, please call (716) 488-1971 or visit  http://fscrmentalhealth.com .

The Chautauqua Center provides behavioral health services with individual and group counseling and treatment for substance use disorder, including medication-assisted therapy. The Chautauqua Center has offices at 107 Institute St. in Jamestown and 319 Central Ave. in Dunkirk. For more information, please call (716) 484-4334 or (716) 363-6050.

The Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Clinics are providing telemedicine appointments Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Clinics are also open for crisis appointments and other special circumstances Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clinics are located at 200 E. Third St., 5th Floor, in Jamestown and 319 Central Ave. in Dunkirk. For more information, please call (716) 661-8330 or (716) 363-3550.

The Resource Center (TRC) provides one-to-one counseling, group counseling, and medication assisted treatment.

“We are accepting new referrals both in our PROS (Personalized Recovery Oriented Services) Program and in our Outpatient Clinics for Mental Health Counseling and Psychiatric Services,” said Nicole Mucheck, Director of Behavioral Health Services & Care Coordination. “We can schedule same day or next day appointments in both programs, and have on-site crisis appointments as well as telemental health services including both phone and video.”

TRC office at 186 Lakeshore Dr. W. in Dunkirk is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and its office at 880 E. 2^nd St. in Jamestown is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (716) 366-7660 or (716) 661-1447.

TLC Health operates clinics at 33 N. Main St. in Cassadaga and at 7020 Erie Rd. in Derby, just outside of Chautauqua County.

“We are accepting new patients at both clinics and are scheduling appointments within three business days,” said Megan Schmitt, Director of Substance Use Disorder Services. “All interactions between patients and staff will be via telephone through Telemed. The best way to contact each clinic is by phone.”

Its Cassadaga Clinic can be reached Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at (716) 595-3355. Its Derby Clinic can also be reached at (716) 947-0316.

UPMC Chautauqua Outpatient Mental Health and Outpatient Chemical Dependency clinics are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Appointments, including new evaluations and crisis appointments, will continue to be offered via phone or video linkage,” said Trish McClennan, Director, Behavioral Health Services. “During this time, we have limited staff at both locations. These folks are taking care of all calls, scheduling tele visits, and handling crisis appointments. Peers from the Mental Health Association (MHA) are also on site to assist patients with any tele connection issues, as well as interface with the community.”

Its clinic at the Jones Health Center, 51 Glasgow Ave. in Jamestown, can be reached at (716) 664-8641 and its clinic at the Dunkirk Health Center, 306 Central Ave. in Dunkirk, can be reached at (716) 363-0018.

If you answer YES to any of these questions, please call ahead before visiting any health care provider.

• Do you have any respiratory symptoms?
• Do you have a fever?
• Have you traveled outside of the United States or New York State in the last 14 days?
• Have you been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have you been in close contact with anyone who may have coronavirus or COVID-19 virus in the last 14 days?

The Chautauqua County Crisis Hotline at 1-800-724-02461 is available if you are experiencing a personal crisis or are in emotional distress.

If you are feeling lonely and need someone to talk to about how you are feeling, the WARMLINE is available 24/7 at 1-877-426-4373 or send a text to (716) 392-0252.

Only if you, a friend, or loved one is experiencing a life threatening medical emergency, should you go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

• AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE AT SOUNDCLOUD

JAMESTOWN – Family Service of the Chautauqua Region (FSCR) is inviting the community to its annual “Pasta for a Purpose” fundraiser. The event will be held on Friday, Feb. 14 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Chautauqua Suites (215 West Lake Rd, Mayville, NY).

The dinner will be catered by Chautauqua Suites and will offer guests a choice of pasta entrees including a variety of pastas, meatballs, chicken Parmesan, and Italian sausage – along with desserts and wine.

Giulia Sowrey of “Star Sirch Productions” will be the live DJ during the evening.

Along with dinner and music, guests will have a chance to bid on items through the event’s silent auction and basket raffle.

The fundraising event will help support children and families in the Chautauqua Region as well as to assist in expanding our House Calls Program which brings mental health services to seniors and others who are unable to leave their homes due to disabilities. All proceeds will assist children and families to obtain counseling services in which they otherwise may not be able to afford.

As a not-for-profit agency, Family Service relies on generous funding from the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County as well as local foundations and individual donations. Family Service also holds an annual fundraiser to help make services more affordable to those who may find their copay and/or large deductible to be a hardship. Attending the Pasta for a Purpose event is a great way to support the mission of FSCR which is to strengthen the mental health and well-being of individuals, families, and our community and at the same time – have a great time.

Tickets are available at $40 dollars per person and can be purchased through Family Service of the Chautauqua Region by calling 716-488-1971 or emailing familyservice@fscr.mygbiz.com. Each ticket includes a chance to win the Grand Prize.

Family Service of the Chautauqua Region utilizes licensed therapists to provide mental health counseling to the Chautauqua region through a variety of programs. These programs include Office Based counseling at our office (332 East 4th street) as well as other offices through our collaboration/partnership with Westfield Family Services and Family Health Medical Services, School Based counseling through our partnership with our local schools (Jamestown Public Schools, Chautauqua Lake, Frewsburg, Randolph, Clymer, and Sherman), House Calls counseling (individual homes), Employee Assistance Program (EAP) currently 36 Chautauqua County agencies), Hispanic Outreach Program (translators for Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, The Resource Center, and WCA in both the North and South counties) as well as works in partnership with the Jamestown Police Department through Project Crossroads to help victims of domestic abuse find the services they need.