The author of Maps to the Other Side and founder of The Icarus Project, a mental health support network and community, talks to us about mental health, his projects, and the forthcoming DSM-5.

Sascha founded The Icarus Project and wrote his book because he lives in the trenches and believes that a diagnosis that encompasses a mental illness needs to be about more than just the diagnosis. Continue reading....

It's All About Community

The JBFCS Walks! Team participated in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk on May 11, 2013. Our team wore t-shirts designed by a client participating in one of our programs. NAMI hosts the city’s only walk to support mental health and fight the stigma people affected by mental illness and their families face every day. Proceeds fund NAMI’s free support and education programs for families and individuals living with mental illness.

The New York City South Street Seaport NAMI 5K Walk route began at 10 am. Walkers went over the Brooklyn Bridge and back to the Seaport for a Post-Walk Wellness Fair with activities such as free massage, yoga, basic health screenings, and raffle prizes. Thirty-seven JBFCS AMI Division staff, board members, and clients braved the rain to walk for the cause. Despite the weather, morale was high and we had an enthusiastic group. Thank you for walking with us!

Take a look at upcoming dates....

JACS Volunteers Receive Community Service Awards

JBFCS’ annual Spring gala was held on April 24 at the Plaza Hotel. This year’s honorees (pictured left to right) were: Jerold D. Jacobson, Proskauer, Partner; Jean Shafiroff, JBFCS Board Member; (Mayor Bloomberg joined the evening); Sy Askin, JBFCS Honorary Chair of the Board; and Paul Levine, JBFCS Executive VP & CEO. The evening began with a flourish, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the cocktail hour to address the crowd and thank JBFCS, noting that “you can’t do it alone” and that the work of JBFCS is a necessity for the city to help its residents in need.

Get all the details here....

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and thus an appropriate time for the new DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, version 5) to be released. But the controversy surrounding it can be astounding.

In an Opinion in the New York Times, the question arose as to whether clinicians would actually apply the new diagnoses and findings, whether people would change the way they look at and treat patients. Or if life would go on as usual. We’ve posted the link on the "In the News" forum on our intranet as well as on our "1 Mission.” blog and we’d like your opinions on both the new edition being released and on the Opinion from the Times.

Weigh in.....

Employee Recognition

It’s the employees who make JBFCS tick and over the past month we held lunches celebrating those who have been in our consistent employ. Pictures can be seen here.

Often what can’t be said out loud can be portrayed through art. The Westchester Art Therapy Department is proud of its students who have participated and showed their work at the Westchester Campus Art Show on May 23. Work from clients in both residential and day treatment programs was on display. Kudos to all for having the courage to develop their creative voices.

Amiee Abusch and Karlina Pena participated in a Children’s Mental Health Fair sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York in the Bronx. JBFCS’ preventive program was communicated to the community and fellow clinicians. Amiee talked about the importance of preventive services in the child welfare system and how services can strengthen families.

JBFCS will also be represented at the 9th Annual Bronx Mental Health Forum on June 7. Sharing information about services offered strengthens programs and makes for a sounder community. Mental health and juvenile justice @ Lincoln hospital center auditorium.