Boris’s Story

Meet Boris

Raised in Russia, Boris realized at an early age that he was gay. He dreamed of a quiet and happy life, but living in a country that sanctioned discrimination against homosexuals made him feel constantly on edge. After surviving a violent attack, Boris fled to the United States in search of safety and belonging. Settling into a small apartment in Brooklyn, he found employment as a truck driver until losing his legal work authorization. Unable to pay his monthly bills, Boris sank into a deep depression, consumed with thoughts of failure and suicide. Hospitalization followed. His dream of a peaceful future suddenly felt even more out of reach.

A Step Towards Help

While receiving inpatient care at NYU Langone Hospital, Boris connected with one of The Jewish Board’s kind and empathetic social workers, Faina. Over several conversations, the usually reserved Boris learned to trust Faina and opened up about his financial insecurity. Faina reached out to The New York Times Community Fund, formerly Neediest Cases Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance for low-to-moderate income people struggling to pay their bills. For someone as shy as Boris, simply asking for help – and then receiving it – made his eyes well with gratitude, a moment that reminded Faina of the valuable work we do.

Finding a Voice Through Comfort and Care

Still unable to secure work due to his immigration status, Boris’s depression grew so intense that he found it difficult to leave his apartment. During a routine check-in, Faina sat with Boris and offered compassion as he opened up about feeling alone and isolated. She referred him to the Seymour Askin Counseling Center. As part of our Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Brooklyn, it provides mental health care to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay.

Diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, generalized anxiety, and agoraphobia, Boris desired care, but the thought of leaving home caused him to panic. Fortunately, the team at Samuel Askin specializes in creating a warm and safe environment, so clinical services were conducted over Zoom to ease his anxiety. With many bilingual counselors on staff, Boris could speak in his native Russian, which made him feel comfortable expressing his thoughts and feelings. America remained a country that didn’t feel like home, and his social anxiety stood in the way of making friends. Coupled with financial insecurity, staying inside became a form of safety and surrender. These ongoing sessions also provided two more things Boris desperately needed: human interaction and a feeling of hope.

A Quiet Dedication

Digging deep to reconnect with the strength it took to leave Russia and seek a happier life in America motivated Boris to commit to making lasting change. With the help of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Boris and his therapist worked together to achieve a set of goals: manage panic and anxiety symptoms, reduce loneliness by building a sense of community, and regain work eligibility in order to secure meaningful employment. Impressed by Boris’s diligent dedication to positive change, Faina described him as: “a quiet fighter… someone determined to move forward, even if progress came inch by inch.”

Steady Progress Towards the Future

In the two years since beginning therapy, Boris’s emotional stability has improved. He builds comfort with the outside world by talking to neighbors and taking short walks to the nearby dog run. Even during setbacks, such as a recent panic attack, Boris showed improvement in self-advocacy by reaching out to The Jewish Board for support. Once his immigration and work authorization cases are resolved, he intends to look for jobs, ideally in IT. Taking care of his well-being and building towards independence fills Boris with the confidence to keep moving forward. As he told us while reflecting on his journey: “I know nothing in life comes easy, but when you accept help and work hard, good things will happen.”

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients.