May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and team members at Tobyhanna Army Depot have a wealth of resources available to support them.

One resource is the depot’s Employee Services Center (ESC), available 24/7 to provide short-term counseling and support for a variety of issues.

ESC’s mission focuses on prevention, education, training and short-term counseling in the areas of substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault, and employee work/life well-being. All services are confidential and take place on post.

Brittany Anderson, the ESC’s Community Support Advocate, is a board-certified clinical counselor who specializes in family situations as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She says there are differences between ESC services and the traditional mental health care model.

“Our services are not intended for long-term mental health treatment. Instead, we offer members of Team Tobyhanna brief, solution-focused counseling. During sessions, we work with clients to help them balance their stress and create a foundation for their next steps.”

Clients with issues that require long-term treatment are referred out to therapists and/or services in the community tailored to meet employee needs. However, ESC support doesn’t stop once a referral is made.

“Even after referral, we maintain contact and offer follow-ups to ensure Tobyhanna Army Depot is an environment that supports employees during their times of need. We want employees to know that we’re here as they move through their journeys,” said Anderson, stressing that the ESC’s main focus is ensuring Team Tobyhanna gets the proper support they need.

“At the end of counseling, we hope our clients leave with an improved quality of life and the ability to address their challenge. Team Tobyhanna – if you need help, please reach out. We will never turn anyone away.”

The ESC is led by Ricardo Horn, a licensed social worker who earned his Master’s Degree from the Marywood University School of Social Work. As the Chief of the ESC, he oversees formal programs such as the Employee Assistance Program, Army Substance Abuse Program, and the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program.  Horn joins Anderson in providing mental health care to the depot population and leads a biweekly lunchtime mindfulness group focused on helping employees reduce stress. The group earns high praise from participants.

“The mindfulness group allows me to hit ‘pause’ on my work day and refocus my thought process, which lowers my stress,” said Joseph Lucas, an electronics mechanic in the C4ISR Directorate. John Tetlak agreed.

“Practicing mindfulness promotes ardency and alertness; so, rather than reacting automatically, you observe the mental process from a non-judgmental perspective. Mindfulness Training is helping me increase my patience and tolerance in stressful situations by reducing negative emotions,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, one in four people worldwide is affected by a mental health issue or disorder. Horn encourages depot employees to seek help when needed.

“Despite the prevalence of mental illness in America, the stigma associated with counseling still prevents many people from getting the help they need,” said Horn. “Seeking help is a sign of courage and should never be viewed as a weakness or personal shortcoming.”

The services of the ESC are available to all Department of Defense employees and their immediate family members.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the ESC office at (570) 615-8873. If you or a loved one are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the ESC Hotline at (570) 615-5591.

By Dr. Sanjay Chandragiri, M.D.

If you’re like me, you cherish pretty much everything about springtime, from the warmer temperatures to the abundant outdoor activities and rebirth of the flowers and trees.

Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that we as a society are dealing with some very difficult events at the moment, from the continuing global COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine and to rising inflation and supply shortages. Add all of that to the everyday stresses of life and it’s no wonder that people are experiencing increased rates of anxiety and depression.

How appropriate then that May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, an awareness campaign geared around encouraging people to practice self-care and seek out any of the many mental health resources available to them. This year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is promoting a “Together for Mental Health” message, using the month “to bring our voices together to advocate for mental health and access to care through NAMI’s blog, personal stories, videos, digital toolkits, social media engagements and national events.”

It’s a noble goal, for sure, since mental illness remains a huge public health crisis throughout the United States and the rest of the world. According to NAMI, 1 in 5 American adults experience mental illness in some form and 1 in 20 are seriously afflicted by it. Meanwhile, 1 in 6 youths ages 6-17 have mental health disorders, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34. Types of mental illness range from anxiety and depression to obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

These statistics reinforce the great need to further destigmatize mental health so that people aren’t so reluctant to get the help that they need. Fortunately, we have first-rate mental health services available here in Northeast Pennsylvania, including at the Wright Center for Community Health.

At the Wright Center, we offer an array of behavioral health services – therapy, psychiatric care and more – for children, adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, substance use and addictive disorders, bullying, relationship stressors, LGBTQI+ issues, trauma, and loss and grief. In addition, our staff has made significant strides in the realm of telehealth services since the start of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in response to the shortage of psychiatrists in Northeast Pennsylvania and across the country, we started a psychiatry residency in July 2017 and expanded the number of residents accepted into the program in 2022. Our Accreditation Council for Medical Education–accredited residency is progressive in its integration of behavioral health services within primary care environments and promotion of preventive screenings, timely interventions and a team-based approach to care – especially for patients who may not initially seek help on their own.

Our psychiatry residents receive hands-on training in regional public health-based settings, including specialty practices, behavioral health clinics, hospitals and safety-net community health centers where they partner with primary care and addiction medicine teams. The first class graduated in 2021, and scored a 100% pass rate on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s Psychiatry Certification examination.

We are thrilled to be doing our part to address the mental health needs of our community. We have a lot of work to do, but with further advocacy and innovation, we will continue to make great strides against mental illness.

Outreach – Center for Community Resources is honored to receive a $5,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to support the delivery of the Incredible Years® evidence-based parenting and positive childhood behaviors program.

This grant provides needed resources for Outreach to provide the Incredible Years® program that helps parents to achieve improved parenting skills, reduced childhood conduct problems, and strengthen social-emotional learning, self-regulation, school readiness, and problem-solving skills. Incredible Years® parents and children increase social connections, resiliency, and knowledge.

The Scranton Area Community Foundation has been serving the Northeastern Pennsylvania region for over 65 years as a steward, a grantmaker, a charitable resource, and a catalyst for change and growth. The Scranton Area Community Foundation was established as a community trust in 1954 by the Scranton Family, whose initial gift was the seed that has grown into a permanent vehicle for donors to accomplish their philanthropic goals while helping to support positive change within our community. Today the Scranton Area Community Foundation holds and manages a variety of funds from individuals, organizations, and corporations. Through these gifts, the Foundation responds to community needs and has provided grants to support regional nonprofits.

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An award-wining craft chocolate and coffee producer is partnering with Settlers Hospitality to provide product for service in all its Hawley locations including The Settlers Inn, Glass-wine.bar.kitchen, The Dock on Wallenpaupack and Cocoon Coffeehouse and Bakery.

Since its founding in 2017, Moka Origins has achieved an inspiring blend of social responsibility and fine quality. The factory in Honesdale produces coffee and chocolate from hand-selected ingredients of the highest caliber. Much of the product is sourced from Moka’s direct-trade farming partners across Africa. The heart of the business is a devotion to ethically sourced cacao and coffee beans. That commitment has grown into a passion for crafting small-batch premium chocolate and coffee. Moka Origins’ factory is a USDA Certified Organic food facility. It is also Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified. In addition, an organic Swiss Water Process is used to decaffeinate coffee.

“Partnering with Settlers Hospitality has been a dream of ours.,” states CEO/Co-Founder of Moka Origins, Jeff Abella. “This collaboration is the perfect opportunity to deliver our high-quality products to the NEPA community, while also expressing our commitment to supporting coffee and cacao farmers globally.”

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce that NEPA Crane & Hauling will present each First Responder Friday at PNC Field for the remainder of the 2022 season. This new program was giving 50 complimentary tickets to the area’s local first responders and this new partnership with NEPA Crane & Hauling will expand that number to 100 tickets for every Friday home game this season.

“First Responders are the fabric of community and it’s because of them so many of us get to enjoy days at the ballpark,” stated Jeff Keeney, the owner of NEPA Crane & Hauling. “First Responders choose to be an active member of keeping our communities safe and NEPA Crane & Hauling does not take this for granted.  Our communities First Responders are the reason why NEPA Crane & Hauling and our family members get to live and work where we do, and it’s important to us to say thank you any way we can.”

Tickets are given away on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are limited to four per week per first responder.

First responders can register for tickets by filling out the form on the First Responder Friday page on swbrailriders.com. Our Community Relations department will contact the first responders that will receive tickets in advance of each Friday home game this season with information regarding the seats and to make further arrangements.

“When I was kid, a day at the ballpark meant a day watching the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons,” Keeney continued. “I still have memories of going to the games and my brother catching a foul ball and me being mad that I didn’t. The RailRiders aren’t just a business operating in our community. Their passion for supporting the local community and our First Responders is honorable and NEPA Crane & Hauling wants to support our local businesses and community members who live and work here.”

For more information, please contact Jordan Steiner, the Director of Community Relations for the RailRiders, at jsteiner@swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 558-4616.

Join the Chamber’s IGNITE Entrepreneurship team for a unique, on-site experience! You will engage with local entrepreneurs who are developing technology, products, and services at the forefront of their industries. You’ll learn how to enhance your networking and relationship development skills, source high quality information for program development and marketing purposes, as well as the foundational knowledge necessary to start a business.

An intern in the economic development department of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce will apply their classroom-learned skillset in a real-life business incubation setting working with the IGNITE Program Manager, Director of Facilities and Asset Management, and a portfolio of 21 active entrepreneurs in the technology space.

Learn more about us at www.scrantonchamber.com

Students of all years and majors are welcome and encouraged to apply by Monday, May 16, 2022

• Summer 2022, 10 week internship, flexible start date
• In-person internship at the IGNITE Business Incubator located within the Scranton Enterprise Center in downtown Scranton, PA
• Opportunity to work up to 5 hours a day, not to exceed 20 hours a week, within weekday business hours
• $10.00/hour
• All necessary tools and equipment provided!
• For-credit optional*

*Requirement: Students are required to check with their college/university career development office to find out if any guidelines, must be followed and/or requirements must be met for the internship (health & safety, academic or other), by the student and/or the small business host.

Qualifications:

• Strong verbal communication skills
• Energy, passion, and enthusiasm to intern and learn in a business setting
• Desire to engage with others
• Foundational knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Students of all years and majors are welcome and encouraged to apply

Project Description:

• Engage with the IGNITE program clients and alumni through in person meetings, interviews, emails, and phone calls to develop professional relationships and rapport.
• Research and gather key information about the current and past clients of the IGNITE Entrepreneurship Program and catalog the information into a spreadsheet.
• Assist the IGNITE Program Manager with curating content from the research catalog to promote the clients, the program and the community.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned, including ideas generated by the intern based on their personal interests and course of study.

Apply at app.smallbusinessinternships.com by 5/16/2022

Stop by the new Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City for our Community Open House! Take a tour of the facility before it opens to get a sneak peek of the great care Lehigh Valley Health Network is bringing to the Scranton region. The event will also include Papa’s Grill Food Truck, light refreshments, giveaway items and a performance by Lynnette’s Twirlerettes.

WHEN: Saturday, May 14, noon-2 p.m.
WHERE: 330 Main Street Dickson City, PA 18519

Geisinger Health Board of Directors Chair John C. Bravman, Ph.D.,is among this year’s class of Modern Healthcare’s Excellence in Governance award honorees. The Excellence in Governance program recognizes influential individuals who serve on a board of directors for a healthcare organization and foster advancement in culture, mission and performance.

Dr. Bravman, president of Bucknell University since 2010, was appointed to the Geisinger Health Board of Directors in September 2012. He was appointed chairman of the board in December 2016 and also chairs the Emergency Action Committee. He serves as a member of the Geisinger Family, Audit and Compliance, Finance, Governance and Quality committees of the board, and also serves on the Board of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

“I am honored to serve Geisinger and our communities through my service on the board,” said Dr. Bravman. “This recognition is meaningful because it acknowledges the commitment of Geisinger’s entire board, its leaders and employees in putting patients first and contributing to healthier, more vibrant communities.”

This year’s honorees are profiled in the April 18 issue of MH magazine and online at Modernhealthcare.com/awards/excellence-governance-2022.

“Geisinger is very fortunate to have an active, engaged and dedicated board,” said Jaewon Ryu, M.D., J.D., Geisinger president and CEO. “I’m grateful for the experience, leadership and invaluable perspectives John brings to our system as we strive to make better health easier for the communities we serve. I congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”

Each director in the class exemplifies the qualities of excellence in governance: loyalty and service, strategic and innovative vision, and commitment to fostering the values of accountability, diversity, equity and sustainability.

“We are thrilled to launch the rebranded Excellence in Governance awards program with such an esteemed group of honorees,” said Fawn Lopez, publisher of Modern Healthcare. “They are invaluable assets to the organizations and communities they serve and to the advancement of healthcare. We congratulate and thank them for their leadership and dedication.”