Suffolk To Launch New Mental Health Program Monday

SELDEN, NY — Suffolk County officials are poised to announce the details of a new mental health program designed to provide coping strategies and wellness information to people, who experience anxiety or emotional distress, at a special launch at Suffolk Community College's Ammerman Campus on Monday.

The Guide to Your Personal Resiliency Pack Program will educate people on the importance of mental health resiliency, as well as help them to discover ways to cope with various challenges, and guide them on how to build an individualized resiliency pack and then identify when to use it, county officials said.

The launch will include Suffolk students, faculty, and staff, but it is open to the public.

It will start at 11 a.m.

The program was inspired by the county’s Stay-Bag pilot program, which launched in Spring 2022 and provided similar guidance to 50 local veterans who experience post-traumatic stress, according to county officials.

The Citizens Preparedness Academy Suitable for People with Differing Abilities will also be launched as part of "a comprehensive approach to accommodate all Suffolk residents who may be interested in emergency preparedness-related programs," county officials said.

The program is hosted by the county's Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services and the college’s Mental Health and Wellness Services Division.

County Executive Steve Bellone said the county continues to be a leading advocate of mental health services, with staffers striving "to provide programs to those who may be in need.”

“Earlier this year, we partnered with a variety of mental health experts to provide vital information and coping mechanisms to veterans," he said. "Now we’re proud to offer a more inclusive program to students and all community members.”

County FRES Commissioner Patrick Beckley said that an important focus of his department and that of Emergency Management is to prioritize the safety of our residents prior-to, during, and after a natural disaster.

"A key component to ensuring your own personal safety is to be prepared well in advance on how you will manage your anxiety and trauma that could be triggered by the stressors of a disaster,” he said. “By being prepared and building your own personal resiliency pack to include as part of your Go Bag, those who have emotional distress can overcome various obstacles in a time of crisis.”

Suffolk Community College President Edward Bonahue said that while students come to the college "to focus on earning a degree and doing well in their classes, staffers are very much aware of the role of mental health and overall mental wellness on academic success."

"At Suffolk, we have a team of dedicated mental health professionals available to support our students in their pursuits both through one-on-one counseling and through community outreach and prevention strategies such as the resiliency pack program," he added.

There will be virtual options for students, faculty, and staff at the college’s Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood and the Eastern Campus in Riverhead.