The Jewish Board’s Bronx Community Mental Health Center is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) funded program specifically designed to serve Bronx residents who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Through this program, we help clients regain access to services and make connections to address additional needs through innovative and targeted outreach. This is how we were able to help Pierre* tap into our network of supports and services and help him navigate during a turbulent time of isolation and uncertainty.
COVID Presents Challenges
At the height of the COVID crisis, Pierre was anxious and unsure about the future. Before the pandemic, he had been on a journey to improve his mental and emotional health and was making substantial progress. Like many of us, the pandemic made Pierre feel disengaged and increasingly introverted, and as days of lockdown and isolation turned into weeks and months, he lost the progress he had made.
Pierre coped with his isolation through unhealthy habits like excessive smoking and found it difficult to connect and reconnect with others. This is when our Peer Specialist, Stephanie, armed with empathy and motivational interviewing skills, embarked on a journey to reconnect Pierre with his support system.
Helping Pierre Return to His Path Toward Recovery
Understanding the importance of meeting people where they are, Stephanie began talking Pierre through the pros and cons of his habits. Over time, he began seeing the challenges he was creating for himself and opened up to the need for change to continue his recovery journey. Although he was initially skeptical about medication, Stephanie’s supportive approach also encouraged Pierre to consider this additional treatment and continue to build a stronger recovery plan for himself.
Through ongoing collaboration, Pierre made remarkable progress. He learned that recovery is achievable and sustainable with a supportive network that cared for him and his own determination to take part in the process. Pierre is now smoking less and hopes to quit entirely, is more comfortable talking to others, and is actively following up with his doctors to continue with his medication. Stephanie continues working with Pierre, empowering him along his path toward recovery.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients.
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