Photo by Marilyn Hesler

Need to de-stress this finals week? How about spending some time with a 102-pound, want-to-be lap dog? There’s also a fluffy Alaskan Malamute who loves to be smothered with hugs or everyone’s favorite Goldendoodle.

These friendly, furry campus visitors are part of the , which partners with community organizations to offer pet therapy opportunities throughout the semester, especially during finals. Don’t miss your chance to snuggle with one of these furry friends in the Walters Pet Therapy Room in The Barnes Center at The Arch.

SU News caught up with three of the therapy dogs that frequent the University—Bella,�� Samuel and Clayton—and their owners to learn a little more about each.

Bella and Stepien at a Syracuse Mets game (Photo courtesy of Sue Stepien)

Bella

Bella is a 102-pound Bernese Mountain dog who just celebrated her sixth birthday this past Saturday. This is the second year that Bella and her owner, Sue Stepien, have been part of Pet Partners of CNY—a nationally recognized therapy animal program serving Central New York—and have been visiting the University.

Bella, who thinks she is a lap dog despite her size, is so smart that she knows when it is time to head out into the community in the afternoons. The pair not only visit the University but also the local hospitals and schools.

“We love to get out and meet new people,” Stepien says. “The students especially, they love to chat about their pets back home.”

Not only will you see Bella in the Walters Pet Therapy Room, but you may also see her at various special events on campus.

Samuel

Samuel and Raterman at the Teal Ribbon Walk. The pair participated in honor of Raterman’s grandmother, who passed away from ovarian cancer. Samuel has been asked to lead the walk this coming year. (Photo courtesy of Kim Raterman)

Samuel is a 90-pound Alaskan Malamute who recently turned four. He and his owner, Kim Raterman, work as a team to facilitate their mission of bringing health and happiness to all.

Raterman, a certified health coach, uses pet therapy as part of her practice since it aids in reducing stress, improving motivation and increasing overall health. The pair has also been with Pet Partners of CNY for two years.

Not only do they visit the University, but they also visit other schools and adult day centers and participate in wellness events, including walks in the community. However, visiting the University holds a special meaning to them.

“The students’ faces light up immediately when they see Samuel,” Raterman says. “I love to watch his body language when we are at an event. He has the ability to pick out the person in a group who needs him the most, even when they might not be aware of how much they need him. It’s beautiful to watch.”

You can follow the adventures of Samuel on his .

Clayton

Last, but certainly not least, is Clayton. He is an 8-year-old Goldendoodle who has been visiting the University through the Pet Partners program for seven years. You may have seen his cute face before as he is often featured in promotional ads for the University’s pet therapy program.

What is unique about Clayton? There are five members of the Vescio/Arcuri family who are all certified to go out in the community with him. How did this all start? Pet Partners of CNY had a recruiting table in one of the local pet stores, and while at the time Clayton was too young, once he became a year old and was eligible, Nick Vescio, his wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter all became certified. The family works together to attend events all over the community but says the University is their favorite.

“We love engaging with the students and making genuine connections with them,” Vescio says. “They will sit down and talk about their dogs and show us pictures and they like to look at a photo album we carry with us with pictures of Clayton since he was a pup.”

The Vescio/Arcuri family with Clayton (Photo courtesy of Nick Vescio)

1. “Focus on what you can control – the antidote to helplessness is taking action. Channel your energy into constructive activities that can provide a sense of accomplishment.
2. Practice self-care – adequate sleep, regular physical activity and healthy eating habits are important for all of us, yet especially important during stressful times.
3. Obtain adequate social support offline – online discussions can become flame wars and unproductive. Meaningfully connect with others offline daily. Set boundaries around news consumption and social media use.
4. Stay grounded and keep your perspective – try to not allow dark feelings and events to take up all your mental space. Make room to see the good and experiences that give you hope and purpose.”

Elizabeth Carter

, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, and her research team have received a water resource grant from the U.S. Geological Survey to develop a sensor network that measures flooding. This sensor network will help predict different types of flooding caused by natural disasters, particularly flooding in areas where people live, which is referred to as urban flooding. This project is known as the Urban Flood Observing Network, and you can learn more about it here.

Related to Hurricane Milton specifically, she writes: “We design flood control infrastructure, like storm sewers, reservoirs, floodwalls, and levees, to handle a storm that we think has a 1% chance of happening every year. The primary physical driver of these 1% flood events in the eastern and central United States are tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, storms, and hurricanes). More hurricanes directly translates to more frequent infrastructure failure. More intense hurricanes means more catastrophic infrastructure failure. In 1970, the most intense storm we’d see in an average year was a category 3. In 2010, it was a category 4. If these trends continue into 2050, we could expect at least one category 5 storm annually. We are not prepared.��Flood control infrastructure upgrades in the eastern United States are urgently required, and a critical public health and equity issue.”

Sarah Pralle

, associate professor of political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, specializes in environmental politics and policy, climate change and energy, flood mapping, flood insurance, and more. Pralle also serves as a senior research associate for the Campbell Public Affairs Institute. She was recently quoted in The Atlantic story ““:

“Many people assume that they face little risk if they aren’t living in an area included in high-risk zones on FEMA’s flood maps, Sarah Pralle, a political-science professor at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, told me. But FEMA’s maps don’t capture the full picture of flood risk. They are drawn ‘based on the assumption that the past will help us predict the future. In a rapidly changing climate, that’s not the case.’ The maps can quickly become outdated as climate risks evolve, she noted, and don’t take into account pluvial flooding, or flooding from heavy-rain events, which is what North Carolina saw last week. Even people who have personally experienced flooding sometimes drop their policies, Pralle said, adding that ‘if people have lived in a place where it hasn’t flooded in decades, they lose that memory of what can happen and what kind of losses they might suffer. Those who do buy flood insurance usually live in areas prone to flooding. The result is a system in which the risk is not evenly spread out, making flood-insurance premiums hugely pricey—Pralle likened it to a health-insurance system in which only the sick buy coverage.'”

And then: “So much of the response following disasters can feel piecemeal and reactive, Pralle said. Insurance is important—but not the full story. ‘Every dollar we put into prevention is going to be a lot more efficiently spent,’ she explained. In a world reshaped by climate change, ‘this idea that there’s safe places you can go hide is unrealistic.’”

Robert Wilson

, associate professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, studies animals and society, climate change, geography, and more. He can speak to human-pet relationships and the need to prepare for your pets ahead of natural disasters.

Wilson writes: “As Hurricane Milton barrels ashore in Florida, we’re reminded of how owning pets can complicate evacuations during natural disasters. When asked, most pet owners say they consider their cats and dogs to be like family. This affection for pets can complicate evacuation decisions during emergencies.

Pet owners often face a difficult choice. They can evacuate to a hotel or shelter that doesn’t accept pets, potentially leaving their animals behind. Or they can remain in place, facing the worst of a hurricane to stay with their pets. This dilemma underscores the need for emergency planning that considers the needs of pets as well as people.

In areas prone to hurricanes, wildfires, or other natural disasters, pet owners should develop evacuation plans that include their animals. This could involve plans that identify hotels and shelters that accept pets, preparing an emergency kit with supplies for people and animals, and making sure pets have proper identification. Being prepared can help save the lives of people and the pets they love.”

Patrick Penfield

, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse Univeristy’s Whitman School of Management, can speak to supply chain issues related to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Penfield writes: “Hurricane Helene and Milton will adversely impact US supply chains. Unfortunately, we have a high concentration of critical manufacturing facilities in the South such as IV plants (North Carolina and Florida) and quartz factories (used in the electronics industry) which could be shut down for several months because of the hurricanes. In addition to southern manufacturing plant and distribution centers being closed, we will see a significant loss of vegetable and fruits which will impact availability and drive-up prices. Penfield further stated that significant infrastructure will need to also be rebuilt such as roads, bridges and ports which could further impact the ability of other companies in the South to function.”

Derek Seward

is an associate professor at Syracuse University’s School of Education. Dr. Seward’s scholarly interests focus primarily on the multicultural and social justice development of mental health professionals, with a particular interest in professionals of color.

Seward writes: “Repeated exposure to hurricane disasters can be devasting as the opportunity for hurricane survivors to have sustained psychological recovery time is disrupted. Hurricane survivors can experience a range of short-term psychological struggles including immense anxiety as their lives are threatened, intense feelings of helplessness as they deal with uncertainty regarding potential loss of life (i.e., family, friends, pets) and belongings, and increased stress from physical displacement. The impact on families can be particularly profound as children may lack psychological preparedness and resilience to handle acute unexpected adversities. Physical clinginess, refusal to be separated from parents or guardians, and nightmares or other sleep disruptions are behavioral responses children may display. During disasters, children struggle with experiencing that their world is not stable, secure, and safe. To protect their children, parents may withhold expressing their fears and anxieties which can be problematic as they are not attending to their own mental health needs. Parents and guardians should reassure their children they are being protected. Limiting children’s exposure to media coverage of hurricanes can help to avoid elevating their anxiety. Parents should consider seeking mental health support to deal with any symptoms of stress and anxiety they experience. Longer-term psychological struggles for hurricane survivors include increased substance use and post-traumatic stress symptoms such as having intrusive and distressing thoughts that interfere with concentration mood, irritability, avoidant behavior, and depression.”

Jennifer Genovese

is an assistant teaching professor in the School of Social Work at Syracuse University’s Falk College. She can speak to mental health and trauma related to natural disasters; and, specifically in this case, back-to-back hurricanes. She was recently interviewed for the ABC News story “

Professor Ueda-Ballmer writes: “Suicide has traditionally been viewed as solely a mental health issue. However, it’s crucial to shift this narrative – social factors significantly influence an individual’s decision to contemplate suicide. These factors include poverty, addiction, discrimination, social isolation, and the impact of media. The findings from , developed by the world’s leading suicide prevention experts, emphasize the need to promote upstream measures that address these social determinants alongside clinical treatment for mental illness. The Series suggests potential interventions such as economic policies to reduce poverty and regulations on alcohol consumption and social media platforms.”

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.), the U.S. veteran population has decreased by almost 25% over the past two decades. Despite this decline, veterans continue to account for a significant percentage of suicides. In 2021, more than 16% of those who committed suicide in the United States were veterans despite making up less than 8% of the population.

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the campus community is invited to the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) for the Suicide Prevention Education Talk (SPEd Talk) Mental Health Summit. The event is hosted by the Syracuse V.A. Medical Center and Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF).

Mike Waldron

The summit will feature a keynote address by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mike Waldron, founder and executive director of 23rd Veteran, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans. Waldron launched the organization after overcoming his own trauma from military service and aims to provide unique mental health support for other veterans coping with similar challenges.

Waldron, a graduate of the IVMF’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans program, has been a featured guest speaker on the topic of suicide prevention before. He spoke at the NVRC last year on the topic and continues to be a passionate supporter for veterans struggling with mental health complications due to their time in military service.

“The idea came from my personal experience, so my business is related to my military service. I served in combat in 2003, and it was about four or five years later I fell into some pretty severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. I was struggling with panic attacks every day, multiple times a day. A lot of social anxiety, a lot of nightmares, couldn’t sleep, and I had a really hard time working. I wasn’t sleeping most of the night, and life was just a really big struggle for about four or five years there,” says Waldron. “Then I stumbled on something that worked for me, something that pulled me out of it.”

A panel discussion will follow, featuring:

• Karen Heisig, director of the Greater Central New York Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Leah Piorkowski, licensed mental health counselor with the Syracuse VA Medical Center
• Kyle Thomas, peer specialist with the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program of the Syracuse VA Medical Center

Organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and combating suicide in the community will also be present for a resource fair before and after the discussion. The resource fair and reception will take place in the NVRC lobby. The event begins at 3:30 p.m., with the resource fair concluding at 6:30 p.m.

To learn more about this event or to register, visit .

Matthew Mulvaney

is an associate professor in Human Development and Family Science at Syracuse University’s Falk College. Dr. Mulvaney’s research focus examines the determinants and outcomes of parenting processes. He specifically focuses on informal educational practices by parents, parental discipline, and parenting beliefs.

He provides comments below that can be quoted directly. He is also available for interview.

Mulvaney says:

“The considerations by the Los Angeles Unified School District are a positive step forward to improving the academic success and mental health of its students. It indicates that educational policymakers are beginning to respond to the emerging scientific consensus that the use of cellphones (particularly social media on cell phones) is producing negative attentional and educational outcomes for young people. When the surgeon general of the United States is recommending that warning labels be affixed to social media, it is critical that all youth-serving contexts take notice and that school districts, in particular, take into account this emerging challenge to young people’s mental health and schooling success in structuring their schools.

“What is so beneficial about school district approaches is the recognition that individual-level interventions to reduce cell phone use are so challenging. Reducing smartphone usage among individual youth when their friends still have them and use them regularly is near impossible. It really requires intervention at the broader level to produce an environment in which the overall use of social media is reduced and so schools represent perhaps the best context to address this challenge to youth well-being in a unique way.

“While schools can take the lead in reducing screentime, which will have broad-based benefits in terms of mental health, the benefits are even more specific to the classroom learning context. The link between attention and learning is so clear from the research and I would daresay research isn’t even really needed to demonstrate just how reduced attention to the present social context is when people are using their cell phones. As a teacher myself, I see on a day to day basis the challenges that students have in learning when distracted by phones and computers. Education requires being in the present and engaging with complex material and phones work directly against that. Getting them out of schools and classrooms will help our students to engage with the difficult task of learning complex material and being part of an educational community.

“One of the perhaps underappreciated implications of this approach is the potential to reduce ethnic and class disparities in educational outcomes. As noted by Pamela Paul in the New York Times (), African American and Hispanic teens spend much more time on social media and so a wide spread ban may disproportionately serve to support those students who will benefit most from a focus on in-person schooling. Given the diverse student population that the LA Unified School District serves, this may be not only an important step forward in improving education outcomes broadly but in producing a more equitable schooling environment for all. Interestingly, in terms of equity, I think it may also be the students with hidden disabilities that might also benefit the most from the reduction in cell phone usage in school environments and so would go further and suggest that they only include very narrow exceptions to the policy and do so based on research-based work on cell phones and disabilities.

“As with any broad-based change that affects a wide number of students and families, there are likely to be challenges. Parent and student resistance will exist and potentially for very important reasons- that smartphones have become so integrated into our lives that it will require adjusting on some levels and that will be easier for some families. I also think it will be a lot like vaping where there is simply widespread disregard for school rules, which leads to a general pattern of disciplinary elevation (which is also bad for learning environments) and broad-based disregard for school rules.

“On the whole though, this intervention may potentially have long-lasting and substantial beneficial impacts on LA Unified School District students, and particularly among the students who are experiencing the greatest challenges withs schooling. Removing these substantial barriers to education may be a critical intervention that will improve the well-being of the students generally and of more vulnerable students broadly.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

Syracuse University

, is an associate professor in the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a senior research associate in the Center for Policy Research. Her expertise includes suicide prevention, and she is currently conducting multiple studies aimed at identifying and mitigating the barriers to mental health help-seeking. She writes: “As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial to recognize that individuals with severe mental health conditions may not seek help or treatment, even among college students who typically exhibit lower levels of stigma associated with mental health treatment. Our recent survey of Syracuse University students suggests that approximately 33% are experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms, with about 13%��reporting suicidal ideation. However, only slightly more than half of those with these serious conditions sought treatment, either on- or off-campus, in the past 12 months. Given that our students have full health insurance coverage and good access to care, the low rate could be attributed to perceived stigma; quite a few of our students responded that others would think less of someone who has received mental health treatment. Mental Health Awareness Month provides an excellent opportunity to reach out to those struggling with mental health issues and assure them that seeking help is entirely acceptable.”

, is an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College. He teaches courses in human sexuality, cultural diversity, and relationship therapy with LGBTQ clients. . He writes: “Mental health is a conversation that we all should be having; this month gives us a moment to reflect on those around us who may need additional support. For example, the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of mental health needs. This is driven from the compounded impact of minority stress, or external discrimination which leads to psychological distress. This year a record number of anti-lgbt bills () have been introduced across the nation. This disheartening statistic highlights the overt discrimination and resulting fear for many. As the need for support increases, therapists should increase their accessibility to this community through LGBTQ-affirming therapy, offering support and validation of their lived experiences.”

, is an associate teaching professor of social work at Syracuse University’s Falk College. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a mental health therapist, family advocacy officer in charge, and as manager of the alcohol and drug prevention and treatment program. . He writes: “Addressing the mental health challenges and suicide risks within the military demands a multi-pronged and proactive strategy. This approach should include enhancing mental health services, bolstering support for families, and advocating for a sustainable work-life balance. Such a balance would help soldiers understand the significance and impact of their work on the lives of American civilians, underscoring its meaningfulness. Confronting systemic issues is a critical step towards fostering a healthier, more resilient, and operationally effective military force. By committing to these measures, we can offer robust support to our soldiers, contributing significantly to the establishment of a fortified and capable military entity.”

, associate professor at the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, is a��parenting researcher who joined the Falk College in 2012 following a series of faculty appointments, including a Fulbright fellowship in Cyprus. In both teaching and research, he seeks to understand the principles by which parents and families support optimal child development. He has a broad interest in working to enhance teaching in the developmental sciences. He writes: “In terms of parenting and mental health, one of the most current topics is the work outlined by Jonathan Haidt in his newly-released book ‘The Anxious Generation’ In that work he is basically arguing that an over controlling, overprotective approach to parenting that also encompasses funneling kids into using phones and other media is what is responsible for the growth in mental health challenges. The idea is that parents are overly concerned about the physical harms that might happen to their children so they keep them away from free unsupervised play. Through free unsupervised play, children learn to feel more confident and less anxious- and also spend less time with phones. So this overprotectiveness based on anxiety about potential harms leads them to actually experience high rates of anxiety because they are less prepared to deal with the challenges of adolescence.”

Saraswati Dhakal

In that role, Dhakal coordinated the center’s renal transplant services, delivering care and treatment to patients while providing counseling and guidance to both the recipients and the family members of the donors.

Dhakal experienced the challenging hardships of working with patients with terminal illness, and she saw firsthand the psychological impact it can have on a family watching a loved one go through their health battle.

Those interactions reinforced to Dhakal the importance of holistic health care while setting her on a path to become a professional counselor and mental health advocate once she graduates.

“Witnessing the impact of mental health challenges on individuals close to me sparked a desire to understand and support those struggling with such issues. Those experiences as a nurse and transplant coordinator further ignited my curiosity to learn more about mental health, which stems from a desire to better understand individuals’ experiences, motivations and resilience in the face of adversity,” Dhakal says. “I am continuously intrigued by the complexities of human behavior and the role of counseling in promoting well-being.”

Saraswati Dhakal plans to utilize her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling to create a safe, accessible environment for everyone seeking help.

During her time on campus, Dhakal was the graduate assistant at the Center for International Services, working with the staff to offer programming and services that support the well-being and overall success of the international student population while contributing to the center’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. She also was active with the , the counseling academic and professional honor society, serving as secretary during the 2023-24 academic year.

Dhakal will participate in the on Saturday, May 11, in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

Leading up to convocation, Dhakal sat down with SU News to discuss the challenges facing mental health care professionals and how she plans to utilize her degree to create a safe, accessible environment for everyone seeking help with their mental health.

Students studying at Carnegie Library (Photo by Ross Knight)

Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed?

Shannon Hefti

With the last day of classes just under a week away, on Monday, April 29, and during Stress Awareness Month, now is the time to remind yourself what stress looks like for you personally, how you can combat it and where to find assistance.

, associate director for health promotion at the Barnes Center at The Arch, offers tips to stay grounded during this extra hectic time: know thyself, connect and get moving.

According to the , stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, such as having a lot of work to complete at the end of the semester or having an illness. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can happen repeatedly over a long time.

Advice From Barnes Center at The Arch Health Promotion

SU News spoke with Hefti, who oversees the strategic direction of the University’s mental wellness initiatives, to find out how to best combat stress during this time of year.

What is your advice for students who are feeling stressed and overwhelmed as the semester wraps up?

Regularly check-in with themselves and their bodies. We know that this time is stressful due to finals and many students packing up to move so it cannot be avoided. But they can do a self-check-in to see how they are managing the stress by listening to their body and the alarms it raises when it is feeling overwhelmed. In those moments, I know it can seem counterproductive to slow down and engage with a de-stressing activity, but it ultimately will help the body to be able to sustain balance during a time we know has several high stressors.

Is there anything students should avoid that could add undue stress during this time?

As I mentioned, we know this is already a time with stressors that cannot be changed, so it can be helpful for students to be aware of what other things cause them stress. Then they can do their best to avoid those activities, thoughts or people during this time. Those other stressors might not be able to be removed from their lives, but if they have the ability to avoid them while the semester concludes it can help to keep the stress levels manageable.

What are your favorite things to do to help combat stress?

Lean into the people, places and things that provide them with positive sensations existing in their lives currently! De-stressing activities can vary from person to person; the most important thing is that it brings the student a positive sensation and is a safe, healthy activity. Common activities that people engage in to de-stress that are accessible and convenient include reading a book for recreational purposes, exercising, listening to music, drawing/painting, meditation, going for a walk outside and talking with a friend or family member, etc.

What are some of the resources available to students to combat stress?

The first resource I would recommend is —as the premium membership is free to Syracuse University students so they are able to access mindfulness, meditation and other wellness tools right through their phone. is a great option for those students who want a good cuddle with a dog or the if they wanted to utilize the massage chairs, zen gardens, light therapy boxes and more. Using any of the many options on the recreation side of the Barnes Center is a great way to de-stress whether that is a quick workout on the fitness floors, trying the climbing wall, taking a fitness class or checking out the esports gaming room. Booking a fitness class and an appointment for the MindSpa can be done through the . I also encourage students to connect with their existing social circles, clubs or organizations to lean on each other for support. It is a stressful time for most people, but they do not have to do it alone—connection with one another even if it is just to study is a great way to mitigate stress.

Students enjoy the indoor rock-climbing wall at the Barnes Center at The Arch. (Photo by Angela Ryan)

Stress-Busting University Events

Various groups on campus, including the Student Experience Division, Syracuse University Libraries and Hendricks Chapel, are hosting events on campus for students to partake in as they prepare for finals including:

• Monday, April 29:
• Monday, April 29:
• Tuesday, April 30:
• Tuesday, April 30:
• Tuesday, April 30:
• Tuesday, April 30:
• Wednesday, May 1:
• Wednesday, May 1: Pet Therapy and
• Thursday, May 2:
• Friday, May 3:
• Friday, May 3:
• Sunday, May 5:
• Tuesday, May 7:

Students interact with a therapy dog during a pet therapy session at Barnes Center at The Arch. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Other Recommendations

The NIH recommends the following to help combat stress:

• Keep a journal.
• Download an app that provides relaxation exercises (such as deep breathing or visualization) or tips for practicing mindfulness, which is a psychological process of actively paying attention to the present moment.
• Exercise, and make sure you are eating healthy, regular meals.
• Stick to a sleep routine, and make sure you are getting enough sleep.
• Avoid drinking excess caffeine, such as soda, coffee or energy drinks.
• Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
• Reach out to your friends or family members who help you cope in a positive way.

Students in the Meditation Room at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Ross Knight)

Tracey Marchese

From sentimental Amazon ads on TV to your neighbor’s perfect holiday landscape to an endless stream of social media posts depicting a Hallmark-esque experience, we are often bombarded with messages depicting the “ideal” holiday season that don’t always match up with our actual lives. And that’s OK.

In service of those perhaps feeling a little more “Grinch” and a little less “Buddy the Elf” this holiday season, �����鶹��Ʒ interviewed , professor of practice in the Falk College’s School of Social Work, to solicit practical advice to make the holidays feel a little more joyful, a little more peaceful and a lot more authentic to your own experience.

Members of the media looking to schedule an interview with Professor Marchese on this topic may contact Daryl Lovell, associate director of media relations, at 315.380.0206 or dalovell@syr.edu.

If you’re feeling burnt out and overwhelmed…

Start by keeping your expectations for the season—and what you can realistically accomplish and give of yourself—in check, Marchese says. “If you’re overdoing it with trying to create the ‘perfect’ holiday, you’re going to be exhausted—and where’s the enjoyment in that?”

It’s tempting to use the season as an excuse to overindulge in food and alcohol. While Marchese is not trained as a nutritionist, she says using either alcohol (which is a depressant) or sweets/sugar to cope don’t make us feel our best emotionally or physically. “While these might seem helpful in the short-term, overindulging at the holidays can actually compound or further contribute to feelings of burnout and overwhelm for us,” Marchese says.

If you’re suffering from “comparison fatigue”…

Sometimes it feels like social media is designed to make us feel poorly about ourselves, or like we aren’t living up to the standards everyone else is showing on their feeds. Marchese says it’s important to recognize that you are likely comparing yourself to “someone else’s highlight reel.”

“The truth is, life isn’t a Hallmark movie—life is messy sometimes and that is okay,” Marchese says. “You can still have lovely, joyful moments that are defined by how you want to enjoy the season. Don’t worry so much about what other people are up to because their social media is probably not depicting their reality, either.”

If you’re feeling particularly down after spending time on social media, setting daily app limits or deleting social media apps altogether for the remainder of December is always an option.

If you have strained or stressful family relationships…

There are many reasons why someone might dread spending the holidays with their families, from simply feeling like you aren’t on the same page with them—ideologically (politically or otherwise)—to having a history of abuse or other trauma in your family. If that’s the case, it’s totally normal not to feel excited to spend time with them and it’s always an option not to spend time with them.

If you do choose to spend time with your family, there are ways to make it easier on yourself. Marchese’s top tips include:

• Plan ahead for breaks and solitude. “Always have a game plan in your head for breaking away for a 20-minute walk, excusing yourself for some fresh air or taking a solo trip to the store because you ‘forgot something,’ if needed,” Marchese says. During a longer trip to visit family, incorporate spending time with friends in the area you’ve missed or going to see a movie by yourself.
• Practice deep breathing. If you’re feeling anxious, stressed out or triggered, your breath can be your best friend. “Practicing deep, slow breathing—into our bellies— can help reset our nervous system and activate what’s called a relaxation response,” says Marchese. “It’s free, takes just seconds or minutes, and can be done anywhere, even at the dinner table.”
• Remember that you’re an adult now. Even as a college student, you’re an adult, not a child, but “it’s natural when you’re around family to revert to old roles, which may mean being treated as a child and not like the adult that you are,” says Marchese. “You may find yourself falling back into old ways of relating with your family, but it’s helpful to remember that you’re an adult now and you can make different decisions.”

If you’re still confused about what “self-care” actually is…

Marchese says she thinks of “self-care” (widely used and rarely defined) in two realms: self-care and communal care.

“Self-care entails the basics like adequate sleep, exercise (anything that gets your blood moving—you don’t necessarily have to start an elaborate new workout routine), exposure to daylight, and being mindful about what you put in your body and how it makes you feel,” Marchese says. “It is also about making time for yourself to manage stress through things like meditation, self-reflection and engaging in enjoyable activities, like hobbies.”

Communal care, according to Marchese, means, “Do you have people you can rely on, that help meet your needs, that you have a reciprocal relationship with, that you actually like? Connecting and spending time with the people who ‘get you’ is a great way to offset familial obligations during the holidays.”

If you’re coping with grief and loss this season…

If you are grappling with loss, feelings of grief can well up at this time of year, especially if it’s the first holiday season without someone you love. “Losses come in lots of ways—so it could be a loss of a person through death, but it could also be the loss of a relationship,” says Marchese. “Know that there is no such word as ‘should’ in the grieving process. You are at where you are at, and it takes as long as it takes [to grieve].”

She recommends allowing feelings of grief and sadness to come up when they arise and feeling them fully, but also giving yourself an “exit strategy” from the intense feelings. “If you’re concerned you are going to get ‘stuck’ in those feelings, you might say, ‘OK I’m going to let myself feel what I’m feeling for maybe 20 or 30 minutes, and then I’m going to call a friend or get up and take a walk because I don’t want to find myself falling into a deep pit of despair.’”

Additionally, Marchese suggests journaling about your feelings of grief, writing a letter to your loved one, volunteering, or doing something special to honor their memory as additional coping strategies.

If you feel like you need additional support…

“December is a very common time for people to seek the support of a therapist,” says Marchese. Asking your primary care provider for a referral or seeking in-network providers with your health insurer are great starting points if you’re seeking a mental health professional. You may also search online for licensed professionals in your area, such as by accessing the , or use the to be connected with mental health resources.

If at any point you’re feeling like you may be suffering from , like you want to hurt yourself or are experiencing suicidal ideation, it is time to seek professional help. For crisis support, call or text 988 or use the live chat at to access the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate assistance.

If you’re dreading the thought of navigating a minefield of family drama this season, you’re not alone. According to the , more than a third of Americans are concerned about “challenging family dynamics” this holiday season.

Afton Kapuscinski

is an associate professor of psychology and director of the Psychological Services Center in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Kapuscinski’s research relates to the treatment and prevention of mental health issues in adults.

Professor Kapuscinski has talked extensively about navigating family conflict and mental health during the height of the pandemic.

She answers four questions below about how to approach sensitive topics with your family members. She is available for interviews.

Q: You’re sitting at the holiday dinner table and��a sensitive topic comes up.��What is your advice on best ways to approach this type of conversation?

A: “Planning ahead before we get caught in the ‘heat of the moment’ about if and how to engage in conversations on sensitive topics provides an opportunity to clearly identify goals for the interaction with less emotional burden to cloud our thinking. Consider asking yourself, ‘what am I hoping to accomplish through this conversation?’ and ‘what choices on my part will make that outcome more likely?’ Whether your goal is to change another person’s mind, have your perspective heard, or learn more about a differing viewpoint, we often act in ways that are counterproductive to all of those aims when we feel angry or threatened. We may go into offensive mode by raising voices, interrupting, making accusations based on assumptions, and formulating counterpoints instead of listening.

“Demonstrating empathy, approaching the other person’s views with curiosity and speaking in a non-threatening tone increase the likelihood of a productive conversation.”

Q: How can you find common ground on highly divisive topics?

A: “If you are specifically wanting to find common ground through dialogue, it is important to remember that people have a tendency toward confirmation bias in polarized conversations wherein we selectively search for information that supports what we already believe. A more ‘scientific’ approach may be helpful in reaching common ground, which involves using methods that open yourself to the possibility of disconfirming your own beliefs. Humanizing the other person is helpful in reducing bias, and this may be accomplished by asking them to share what about their own experiences and identity led them to a given position, as well as asking genuine questions to clarify aspects of their viewpoint that you do not understand. Openly acknowledging what you are learning from the other party may offer the added bonus of making them more open to your viewpoints as well.”

Q: Is it ever a good idea to make a topic completely off limits?

A: “The capacity for dialogue about controversial topics is generally viewed as a sign of health for a person as well as a group or system because it involves a capacity for self-control, trust and perspective-taking.�� At the same time, from a mental health standpoint, the level of anxiety, anger and relational discord discussions these conversation may cause is too emotionally costly for some people.

“In my clinical experience, I have seen a few instances in which these conversations have actually derailed substantial progress in psychotherapy because the situation became explosive and had long-term, reverberating effects.��Each person should use their own values and priorities as guides to determine when to enter into dialogue on sensitive topics and with whom.”

Q:��Is there any other advice you would offer on this topic?

A: “I recently attended an excellent workshop with Dr. Kirk Scheider focused on a model for discussing contentious issues in a de-polarizing manner.�� Those who are interested in this topic might consider reading his book, ‘’.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

Syracuse University

Despite growing up on Cayuga ancestral lands, one of the six nations that make up the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Native Americans in New York, Lorna Rose ’11, G’21 never really identified with her Native heritage.

She was raised Italian American and always thought of her Italian roots when it came to her cultural heritage. But that perspective changed with the sudden passing of her older sister in 2020.

That loss sent Rose down a path that would lead to a spiritual reawakening, cultivating an affinity for both her Native culture and her Native heritage. From the depths of sadness, Rose immersed herself in her Cayuga culture, reacclimating and reacquainting herself with her Native roots. In the process, she rediscovered pride in belonging to the Cayuga Nation, the People of the Great Swamp.

Lorna Rose

“Being there with my sister’s kids and realizing they just lost their closest connection to their Native heritage, as one of their aunts it’s my job, my obligation and my responsibility to step up and reconnect with my heritage. Once I did, it was almost a visceral transformation. My body just felt so much more comfortable,” says Rose, who earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from the and a master’s degree in communications from the .

“I started to overcome a lot of the mental health issues I’ve been battling, building and growing my connection and my awareness of my connection to who I am as a Native woman, and reconnecting with my family and getting back into that community that I’d been removed from so long, being raised away from it. It was really life-changing,” Rose says.

Lorna Rose (center) poses with Hall of Fame sportscaster Bob Costas ’74 (left) and Hall of Fame basketball coach Jim Boeheim ’66, G’73.

The University community has come together during Native Heritage Month to amplify Indigenous innovation, celebrate Native communities and educate people surrounding the contemporary issues Native Americans and Native communities face.

Rose stopped by the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast to discuss her spiritual reawakening, the pride she feels through her Native heritage and culture and how the Syracuse University community helped her overcome depression and mental health issues. She also shares how she launched her own communications consulting company, Rez Communications, and why she’s eternally proud to be a Syracuse University alumna.

Check out . A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

Anti-trans legislation—including proposed bills and laws that attempt to limit health care access, remove Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) materials from schools and ban trans athletes from sports—have recently passed in some states.

For transgender and nonbinary individuals, these actions may compound on a personal level, resulting in negative impacts on their mental health and wellness while echoing throughout a lifetime of intersecting identities within work, education, personal relationships and more.

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., the University campus community is invited to learn more about this topic by attending the in 214 Slocum Hall.

Syracuse University has a wide-array of resources available for transgender and nonbinary individuals (photo by Marilyn Hesler)

Staff members from the Barnes Center at The Arch, the LGBTQ Resource Center and the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’ marriage and family therapy program will explore the health and wellness impact these legislations can have on the trans and gender non-conforming community, and what the University��can do to mitigate these negative impacts while providing critical supports for LGBTQ individuals.

“We see this panel as an opportunity to increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of the current sociopolitical landscape on our LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff and community members,” says Carrie Brown, counseling director at the Barnes Center at The Arch. “We hope this inspires and empowers all, as it is everyone’s responsibility to further support cultivating a welcoming, validating and accepting community on campus and beyond.”

Syracuse University Trans and Gender-Affirming Support

As a connected campus community, faculty, staff and students actively work to remove barriers and increase access to student-focused and student-guided Trans and Gender Affirming support. Highlighted campus resources include but are not limited to the following:

Trans and Gender Affirming Health and Wellness

• Wellness exams, supplies (e.g. chest binders, KT Tape), hormone therapy and more;
• Official letters and documentation of name and gender;
• A diverse team of Barnes Center counselors provide group therapy and individual counseling; and
• Free, discreet and inclusive Safer Sex Express sexual health care supplies.

For more information, visit the .

Discovering Community

• : ,

For more information, visit the .

Strengthening a Welcoming Campus

• Workshops: ,
• Trainings: , ,
• .

On top of that, a recent report from the annual shows that rates of social anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts among U.S.-based college students are at an all-time high, with 44% of students reporting symptoms of depression, 37% reporting anxiety disorders and 15% reporting seriously considering suicide in the past year, the highest recorded rates in the 15-year history of the survey.

There was some positive data to come out of the survey of more than 96,000 students: the number of college students receiving therapy or counseling rose from 30% to 37% in the last year, the highest recorded rates.

The mental health and well-being of Syracuse’s students is a top priority for Carrie Brown, the counseling director at the Barnes Center at The Arch who also serves on the Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Team.

Carrie Brown, the counseling director at the Barnes Center at The Arch, on the importance of students working on their mental health and well-being.

“We’ve definitely seen an uptick in social anxiety. Students are saying the number one thing they’re worried about is how other people perceive them. When we think of social anxiety, sometimes we think of people being introverted, and certainly that can be a part of it,” Brown says. “But what was really interesting is our students are more worried about how their peers perceive them. Social media plays a role in that. There’s this expectation that everybody is living an extraordinary life and everybody is doing everything the right way and looks great all the time. I think that distorts the reality. Most of us just want to connect with people and be happy.”

On this “‘Cuse Conversation,” Brown explores the topics of social anxiety, mental wellness, making new friends and finding community on campus.

Brown discusses the University’s integrated health and wellness model for addressing mental health concerns, shares how the University focuses on a student’s holistic development while remaining empathetic to their concerns, offers up tips for finding community and shares common mistakes students make when trying to make friends and develop their social circle.

Check out featuring Brown. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

is a parenting researcher who joined the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in 2012 following a series of faculty appointments, including a Fulbright fellowship in Cyprus. In both teaching and research, he seeks to understand the principles by which parents and families support optimal child development. He has a broad interest in working to enhance teaching in the developmental sciences.

As we head into summer break and since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Professor Mulvaney answers some questions on the topic. He is available for additional questions and interviews, and you can reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu to schedule.

Q: It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. ��how parenting style can significantly influence a child’s mental health. What would you encourage parents to think about when they read articles like these?

A: Certainly, parental hostility is an important determinant of child mental health and that has been shown in the strongest longitudinal research designs available to us. I think the challenge of communicating that harm is that many of the parenting behaviors described here are still very normative parental behaviors and as such parents don’t consider the potential harm to their kids.

In particular, the physical discipline that is described in this article is one of the most relevant components—many parents were spanked growing up and do not think it has any negative impact on kids. Indeed, many parents view it favorably. It is safe to say though that this type of hostile parenting can have long-lasting impacts. Parents should note that the research is clear—hostility, even culturally sanctioned hostility, impacts kids and leads to a host of negative mental health outcomes.

Probably a key mechanism is in its impact on the parent-child relationship, which has cascading effects in both being a direct impact on child well-being but also reducing the ability of parents to serve as resource or support to help manage other stressors that might impact mental health. I think the more that parents can be mindful of their actions and put themselves in the shoes of their kids in order to think about how their kids might be receiving the parenting behaviors is the best thing they can do to try to minimize the hostility in their encounters.

Try to remember what it felt like to be hit or yelled at when they were kids. One additional key point is that hostility doesn’t even need to be as overt as the behaviors described here to be damaging—an eyeroll or a scowl at the wrong time can also really impact children.

Q: Suicide rates in young adults and children are increasing. What should parents be doing to promote the mental health of their children? What signs should they look for since many say those who commit suicide may not show any signs?

A: I think that since I am not a clinician, I would be wary of communicating direct markers for suicide risk. It would be safe to say though that the more parents can be attuned to their children’s mental health and changes in mental health the better for a whole host of reasons, including with respect to suicide prevention.

I would also note there is growing evidence that the increased suicide rates are linked to increased exposure to social media. The numbers spiked after 2012, which was the turning point when the majority of kids began to have smartphones and there is a strong correlation between time spent on devices and risk for suicide ideation.

While I think the risks for social media and teen’s well-being is beginning to become more broadly known, I am not sure parents still know just how striking the research is regarding time on social media and risk for suicide ideation.

Q: How do you have a conversation about suicide with a child?

A: As with all difficult conversations, it is important to be proactive with kids, particularly as they enter adolescence. Most parents just adopt an approach where they tackle difficult topics when/if they come up. It is important to have conversations if there is a suicide attempt in the community or if prominent figures experience something like that but it is also important to have conversations along the way.

However, as the signs for suicide may not be particularly evident, it is important to begin to talk with kids early in their adolescent years. It also needs to be ongoing, with periodic check-ins and building up the information over time as children age. As kids get older, their awareness and perceptions of suicide will change significantly, so it is important to continue to build off their growing awareness of the topic and the direct or indirect experiences that they have.

So it’s not just about the initial content or introducing it, but about opening up the lines of communication to have ongoing conversations about this difficult topic.

Q: Could parents posting their kids online at a young age impact their children’s mental health in the future if they were go back and see posts? Is this something parents should begin to worry about and be conscious of?��

A: This is an interesting phenomenon that certainly seems to be important; but, it is also an understudied phenomenon. Certainly, I don’t think the sharing of media is all negative and I think a lot of kids would feel happy that their parents were proud of them to share their children’s experiences online.

However, I would pull on other work to note how this could have implications for children’s perceived autonomy and voice in actions that impact them. Children should have a say in things that directly impact them and this is an area where that might be particularly true. I think that children should be part of the conversation from an early age about what they feel comfortable having shared online. It’s really about their integrity and wishes.

Without their consent or in worse cases where parents go against the wishes of their children to post information online, it would be my sense that the children would feel violated and powerless. These feelings of control are important for mental health—there is a long literature that shows how increased perceptions of control are positively associated with mental health outcomes for adolescents. As these posts may be available for a long time, it is also important to note that the experiences might bring up complicated feelings in the future, maybe in the same way that social media does now for kids.

If children are self-conscious about their own social media posts and others’ reactions to the information, that may also be true when looking back on the posts of their parents. As just one of many examples, children might compare differences in the frequency and tone of posts across siblings which could potentially produce complicated feelings. The frequency with which parents are posting this information this does make it an important topic for parents to consider in how they communicate about their children and in thinking about how/when to get consent from their children when they are posting information.

This blog post is featured by the international educational publisher ��in their blog about children’s mental health and its impact on learning. You can read more��.

, is an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College. He teaches courses in human sexuality, cultural diversity, and relationship therapy with LGBTQ clients. . He writes:
“Mental health is a conversation that we all should be having; this month gives us a moment to reflect on those around us who may need additional support. For example, the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of mental health needs. This is driven from the compounded impact of minority stress, or external discrimination which leads to psychological distress. This year a record number of anti-lgbt bills (417) have been introduced across the nation. This disheartening statistic highlights the overt discrimination and resulting fear for many. As the need for support increases, therapists should increase their accessibility to this community through LGBTQ-affirming therapy, offering support and validation of their lived experiences.”

, is an associate teaching professor of social work at Syracuse University’s Falk College. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a mental health therapist, family advocacy officer in charge, and as manager of the alcohol and drug prevention and treatment program. . He writes:
“As we enter May, we are reminded that this month is not only Mental Health Awareness Month but also National Military Appreciation Month. These two themes are connected, as the military community faces unique challenges that can have an impact on their mental health. In addition, the month of May provides us with the opportunity to observe Military Spouse Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. Throughout the month of May and every day, our military service members, veterans, and their families deserve our support. Prioritizing the mental health of our military communities strengthens the overall public health and well-being of our nation.

Military members and their families face a range of unique challenges that differ from civilian society, such as deployments, exposure to certain traumatic events, extended periods of separation from loved ones, and more. It’s important to recognize that these challenges are not just at the individual level but rooted in the culture of military life. To support the mental health and well-being of our military populations, we must advocate for specific resources and funding initiatives. This includes increased funding for mental health services, improved mental health screening and assessment, training for qualified mental health professionals, and continued support for military families.

According to the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, “In 2020, there were 6,146 Veteran suicides. This was on average 16.8 per day. In 2020, there were 343 fewer Veteran suicides than in 2019, and the number of Veteran suicides was lower than each prior year since 2006.” The military and veteran communities have certainly made strides in recent years, but there is always more work to be done. Civilians play a critical role as well. By educating themselves on military culture and mental health, advocating for resources, and actively listening, civilians can make a difference in the lives of those who serve our country. Significant change can and does occur at the community level. Veterans and military families are highly active in our local communities across the nation and strengthen our social fabric. Having the right services in place at the community level, such as job trainings, access to quality education, parent support programs, and mental health services, allows our military communities to thrive and not just survive.

Veterans looking for help can find information on their local facility’s website or call the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to connect.”

, an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College, studies veterinary social work and currently teaches classes in the online master of social work degree program. . She recently wrote about the burnout and mental health challenges veterinarians experience, sadly with many leading to suicide. She writes:
“A common assumption about the day-to-day experience of veterinary professionals is that they play with animals all day. While this assumption has elements of truth, it’s not the full picture of what happens on a daily basis behind closed doors. Veterinary teams are challenged with routine care of small and large animals to challenging cases, terminal diagnoses, and euthanasias. From working with pets to production animals, veterinary professionals often experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Unsurprisingly, there are many challenges facing the veterinary community causing a workforce shortage from individuals leaving the field due to burnout or financial reasons, retirement, and sadly death by suicide.” Read her full commentary here.

Aviva Vincent, Ph.D., an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College, studies veterinary social work, and she has some thoughts ahead of World Veterinary Day (see below). If you’d to schedule an interview with her, you can reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.

Syracuse University’s Aviva Vincent, Ph.D, writes:
“Not One More Vet is an organization with the mission of ending Veterinarian Suicide. A common assumption about the day-to-day experience of veterinary professionals is that they play with animals all day. While this assumption has elements of truth, it’s not the full picture of what happens on a daily basis behind closed doors. Veterinary teams are challenged with routine care of small and large animals to challenging cases, terminal diagnoses, and euthanasias. From working with pets to production animals, veterinary professionals often experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Unsurprisingly, there are many challenges facing the veterinary community causing a workforce shortage from individuals leaving the field due to burnout or financial reasons, retirement, and sadly death by suicide.

The International Association of Veterinary Social Work��noted that The field of Veterinary Medicine has been in high demand with the increase of domesticated pets throughout the pandemic. Yet, there are not enough professionals entering the field to meet the demand and sustain the professional industry. Compounding this challenge, Veterinarians are leaving following burnout, verbal abuse, and threats from clients. With the increase in stressors and increased insight into the mental health needs of the field, IAVSW and NOMV are creating resources and initiatives to support the mental health of Veterinarians and intentionally partnering with social workers. Vets, support staff, mental health providers, pet parents, and others are realizing how essential, compassionate, and strong veterinarians are. A list of some initiatives are:
1. International Association of Veterinary Social Work
2. Veterinary Social Work Certificate at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville
3. Not One More Vet
4. Shanti Project
5. PrideVMC
6. Veterinary Hope Foundation
7. MentorVet”

It’s also worth nothing that April 30th is Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. If more people adopted pets, rather than buying them, could this aid the mental health of our veterinarians? , “These high-volume breeding operations add more animals to the national pet population each year than are killed in shelters annually and are one of the most significant contributing factors to shelter populations.” This also does not help the veterinarians who are already short-staffed.

Dina ’91 and David Nass ’91

According to Whitman School Interim Dean Alexander McKelvie, “This kind of support for mental health-related issues is something we haven’t seen at many other business schools, despite it being increasingly important for young professionals to understand. The programming we are creating through the generosity of the Nass family is forward-thinking and rare. It’s asking our students: ‘What does happiness look like to you?,’ ‘How will you prioritize the important things in your life?’ and ‘How will you deal with the challenges?’”

“At the end of the day, our goal is to better prepare our students for professional and personal success that allows them to thrive,” McKelvie adds. “Creating this signature initiative, which will leverage expertise from across campus, will help students do just that. And, we are very grateful to the Nass family for helping the Whitman School make this possible.”

The development of this new initiative also supports the recent of dual undergraduate and master’s public health and business programs with the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Given the new dual programming, creating a tighter relationship between the two schools was central to the Nass family.

As managing director and head of real estate finance at UBS Investment Bank in New York City, David knows all too well the stresses and long hours involved in rising through the banking industry. Dina, who majored in psychology, and for a time worked as a substance abuse counselor, also understands the pressures and stigma attached to mental health issues in the workplace.

“We believe that mental health awareness is a key ingredient to being healthy and happy. Therefore, it is critical to educate students and business professionals about mental health awareness and to destigmatize mental health issues,” says David. “Our goal with this program is to provide students and graduates with tools and resources to manage daily stressors, maintain healthy relationships and be able to recognize if and when they need to seek support. These skills, combined with the ability to make informed decisions, can provide the opportunity to live healthy and happy lives while still enjoying a thriving career.”

The initiative will encompass more than coursework and include expert guest speakers, symposiums, technology and the introduction of a variety of mental health topics for both graduate and undergraduate students. A formal launch event will take place early in the Fall 2023 semester.

“As we prepare students for a lifetime of professional success, I can’t think of a more important skill we can provide them with than one that will aid in dealing with the personal challenges that they—or their friends, family members and teammates—are going to face,” says McKelvie. “Addressing issues related to mental health, such as work-life balance, stress, anxiety, dealing with rejection or burnout, can lead to more fulfilling lives and potentially a more reasonable view of success for our students.”

About the Whitman School

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University inspires students for a world of accelerating change. Offering B.S., MBA, M.S. and Ph.D. programs, all accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Whitman School’s faculty includes internationally known scholars and researchers, as well as successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. Whitman continues to be ranked among the nation’s top business schools by U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek. To learn more about the Whitman School of Management, visit .

About Syracuse University����

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors close the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.��

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University��

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.��

Tracey Marchese, Professor of Practice

is a professor practice in the School of Social Work in Syracuse University’s Falk College. Her research specialties include trauma, PTSD, mental health and mind-body wellness.

She answers three questions below with advice on best ways to discuss traumatic events. She is available for additional questions and interviews.

Q: How should I approach the topic of a school shooting with my child or teen?

A: Children/adolescents may react differently to the news of a school shooting depending upon their age and previous exposure to news of school shootings. Younger children (those younger than about the age of 7) may not have as much awareness or understanding about the impact of a school shooting. Children that are about the age of 8 and older would benefit from having a discussion about it, especially if there is large-scale news coverage and the child will most likely hear about it in school. Adolescents may be more likely to want to talk about it more in depth.

You may simply ask the child if they’ve heard about it and take it from there. After initiating the discussion, adults should take on more of a listening role to see what the child needs instead of talking to the child about what they think the child needs to know. Addressing the needs that the child expresses – whether for more information, comfort, safety planning – will lead to more positive outcomes. Telling the child what the adults think they need to know can actually cause the child more anxiety.

Q: What should parents and caregivers keep in mind in how they talk about the event?

A: Adults need to be mindful about how they address their children’s safety concerns. We do not want to negate the child’s fears – telling the child that they shouldn’t feel scared will only serve to shut down communication. It is not appropriate to tell the child that they will never experience a school shooting because we do not know that. At the same time, we want to help them to feel safe enough so that they do not become fearful of going to school. It is okay to share that you may be feeling scared, too, and that you can work together on creating a plan to feel safer. Taking a proactive stance will help the child feel more in control.

Q: Do you have any other advice to offer?

A: One of the most important things to address��before��speaking to children is for the adults to first address their own feelings/fears/concerns. If the adult is visibly anxious or even just feeling uneasy, the child will pick up on that, regardless of what the adult tells them. Concerns can be addressed in a number of ways: getting support from friends and family, becoming educated about their local school district’s safety protocols, engaging in relaxation techniques to help regulate their feelings, and/or seeking help from a mental health professional if they are having ongoing trouble managing their feelings/concerns.

It is also important to check in with children to see how they are doing and to keep an eye out for any changes in behavior that may indicate that they are struggling. If a child is struggling, parents can reach out to the child’s guidance counselor, pediatrician, or a mental health professional for assistance.

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

news.syr.edu |

Syracuse University

Bryce Hruska

For frontline health care workers, the mental health impact from the pandemic is extending beyond career burnout. Much of the attention on the mental toll suffered by frontline workers has focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

New research from a collaboration between Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh reveals that even those who are not formally diagnosed as suffering from PTSD still experience critical health symptoms that could lead to other health problems.

“While there has been a lot of attention paid to elevated symptom levels indicative of a clinical diagnosis, little attention has been paid to subclinical symptom levels,” says , assistant professor of public health in the Falk College and lead author of the publication reporting this research.

Subclinical (or subthreshold) symptoms refer to psychiatric symptoms—PTSD symptoms in the case of this study—that are not severe enough to be considered indicative of a clinical diagnosis. Hruska and his collaborator, Maria Pacella-LaBarbara at the University of Pittsburgh, examined the prevalence and significance of subthreshold PTSD symptom levels (known as PTSS) in frontline health care workers responding to the pandemic nearly one year after it started, from December 2020 through February 2021. Data from this study were collected from emergency health care workers located primarily in western Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

“This is an important study that captures what frontline health care workers were experiencing during the pandemic’s second wave and continue to experience as COVID approaches the start of its fourth year in the U.S. It could not have been possible without the work of many people, including other researchers and medical personnel who assisted with ensuring that these workers’ experiences were represented,” says Hruska.

“In fact, we found that while 5.5% of the health care workers in our sample met criteria for probable PTSD, over half (55.3%) experienced subthreshold symptoms,” he says. “Even though they weren’t reporting symptoms indicative of a clinical diagnosis of PTSD, these workers were still feeling its effects.”

Researchers found that workers experiencing these symptoms levels reported:

• 88% more physical health symptoms (e.g., constant fatigue, weight change, low energy, headache)
• 36% more sleep problems (e.g., daytime sleepiness, difficulty getting things done) than health care workers not experiencing any PTSD symptoms

“This is a big oversight because these subthreshold symptom levels are common and often confer risk for other health problems,” says Hruska, who explains that these subthreshold symptoms are often overlooked. That in turn leads to increased risk for subsequently experiencing clinical symptom levels when another significant trauma, such as the current rise in COVID cases, is experienced.

“Thus, while the world tries to move on from the pandemic, our health care workers continue to face a significant mental health risk with every surge in cases, as is happening now,” Hruska says.

in January’s edition of the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

To better connect with fans of the Syracuse University football team while showcasing the human side of being a Division I student-athlete, redshirt junior defensive end Caleb Okechukwu, sophomore defensive back Ja’Had Carter and sophomore linebacker Marlowe Wax launched “” earlier this football season.

While the trio of talented football student-athletes was ultimately successful in their efforts to strengthen the already strong bonds between the team and its passionate fan base, a funny thing happened during the recording of their weekly podcast: the talks evolved into a form of therapy, a way for Okechukwu, Carter and Wax to improve their mental health through candid conversations.

Caleb Okechukwu

“We were just trying to show that we’re humans who have emotions and personalities when we’re on the field. We wanted to take our fans behind the scenes and take them onto the field with us while showing that we’re vulnerable with what we go through on a week-to-week basis,” says Okechukwu, who serves as the host and conductor of the podcast. “For me, we’re so used to being tough and not saying anything about the issues we deal with, so this has been like therapy for real. We all looked forward to talking and laughing on the show after each game.”

“As men, we’re taught to not be vulnerable, and a lot of people might think we’re so tough that things don’t get to us, but we all have emotions,” says Wax. “Doing the podcast is therapy, being able to talk to each other about what we’re going through, and I appreciate how much the fans and the public have bought into our podcast.”

The podcast is also a great way for fans of the Orange to get to know their favorite players off the field. Modeled after shows like “,” an unscripted show featuring former NFL players Brandon Marshall, Adam “Pacman Jones, LeSean McCoy and Chad Johnson, the Orange podcasters say their show exemplifies how student-athletes can use their voices as a powerful tool.

Ja’Had Carter

“I was definitely nervous that first episode, but then as we started going through the episodes and talking with each other, it turned into a conversation that really flowed. As the weeks went on, we got better and better and became more confident in our abilities. This has turned into something special,” Carter says.

The name of the podcast is a testament to the tenacious energy and aggressive approach employed by the members of the defense, and it’s also a nod to the tight-knit relationship between Carter, Okechukwu and Wax, who dubbed themselves and their defensive teammates the “Mob Squad.”

So it was only natural that, when they were thinking of what to call their fledgling podcast, the trio settled on “The Mob Podcast.” But what does that mob mentality mean?

“Being aggressive. Always flying to the ball and having that mentality that nobody scores on us. But it’s not just the defensive guys, the offensive guys have bought into the mob mentality, too. It keeps us together and strong,” Carter says.

Marlowe Wax

“We knew the fans would love it because they know and embrace that mob mentality. We hear the mob chant during the games and this whole thing has just come alive and taken off so quickly,” adds Wax.

“When you think of the mob mentality, it’s everybody coming together and being focused on one goal, and accomplishing that goal as a team,” Okechukwu says.

After storming out of the gates red-hot thanks to a 6-0 start that saw the Orange ranked as high as No. 14 in the national polls, comparisons were being drawn between this year’s squad and the last Syracuse team to start 5-0: the 1987 Orange, who, led by quarterback Don McPherson ’87 finished with an undefeated 11-0-1 en route to an appearance in the Sugar Bowl.

Following a shutout home win over Wagner, McPherson joined the podcast for a candid conversation on football, life as a student-athlete on the Syracuse University campus, and the importance of taking care of yourself, physically and mentally.

“When Don started talking about mental health and mental wellness issues, that really stood out to me. As athletes, and especially for male athletes, we’re taught to keep our emotions in. We don’t really display our emotions or talk about issues that we’re going through, but it’s important that we do, and this podcast has helped us do that,” Carter says.

The podcasters have recorded and posted 10 episodes so far, with one more episode still to come. Before Syracuse played in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl against the University of Minnesota on Dec. 29,��the Mob Squad mingled with fans of the Orange during a live podcast recording session, fielding questions from fans who made the trip to New York City to cheer on Syracuse in its first bowl game in four years.

It’s fitting that the podcast featured the fans, since they played such an important role in the creation of the show.

“All offseason we’re grinding, putting in that blood, sweat and tears to get better on the field. What we’re doing right now is what we all dreamed of doing when we were younger, and it’s great that we all came together this year with that one main goal in mind,” Wax says.

“This year we really created a culture and put that respect back on the Syracuse football team,” adds Okechukwu.

But she also realized her work wasn’t impacting an often overlooked segment of the population when it comes to mental wellness and holistic health: Black people. A big reason for that? Traditional mental health and wellness services were not always easily (or affordably) available to those seeking help.

Johnson founded Half Hood Half Holistic in Syracuse, a holistic wellness business that allows Black individuals, couples and families to have the space to heal and work on their mental, physical and spiritual health.

Wanting to make a difference in her adopted home of Syracuse, Johnson founded�� out of a desire to help Black people work on their mental, physical and spiritual well-being. The wellness business curates and centers Black individuals, families and couples, allowing them space to heal and work on treating their holistic, or whole, person.

“The overall goal of Half Hood Half Holistic is to create what we call accessible healing, services that are either low- or no-cost and are relevant to our community and accessible in different ways and on different platforms. Really, this was born out of the fact that in my work with Black and brown folks as a therapist, therapy itself didn’t seem very accessible. It didn’t feel very relevant and in my own practice, I wasn’t serving the community that I felt so close to. I wanted to create something that was very much relevant to that community, while also being culturally sensitive and accessible. Half Hood Half Holistic has been the culmination of that dream and that vision, and it definitely keeps me busy,” Johnson says.

Johnson, a native of Buffalo, New York, earned bachelor’s degrees in and and master’s degrees in and social work from , attended Syracuse University on a full-ride scholarship, thanks to a program called Say Yes to Education.

The author of the “,” Johnson discusses what holistic health means to her, what healing looks like for Black people and why it’s important to debunk the stigmas and stereotypes associated with seeking mental health services. She also shares how she helps make holistic healing accessible for all who seek it and the important role holistic healing plays in helping communities heal from racial harm.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 121 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Rachel Johnson ’17, G’19. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

Kevin Antshel

Syracuse University psychology professor is a clinical psychologist and director of the clinical psychology program in the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University. He has provided extensive commentary on topics around anxiety during the pandemic.

Professor Antshel talked with our team about why the topic of mental health continues to dominate headlines and national conversations, and the challenge of tackling this issue on a deeper level.

Q: Since the start of the pandemic, there seems to be a growing recognition of the importance of mental health. In what ways do you think COVID-19 forced us to focus more on this issue as a collective society?

A: In my opinion, one of the few positive derivatives of the COVID-19 pandemic is the reduction in mental health stigma. While still present, mental health stigma – stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination towards those with mental health conditions – has been weakened over the past 31 months. This is likely due to at least two factors. First, COVID-19 has increased our contact with people with mental health conditions. Decades of stigma research has indicated that lack of contact with stigmatized groups creates fear and discomfort. By virtue of the significant increases in mental health conditions, we have had increased contact with others who have mental health conditions. Second, COVID-19 has also increased our own personal experiences with mental health symptoms and conditions. Thus, many of us now have improved knowledge of mental health and know more about the impact of mental health.

Having improved mental health literacy and increased contact with others who have mental health conditions has likely synergistically reduced mental health stigma. With lower mental health stigma, mental health is discussed more openly. The universal experience of managing uncertainties associated with a global pandemic left many of us with the same emotions. This shared experience, when coupled with reduced mental health stigma, has allowed us to collectively focus more on mental health at the societal level.

Q: How has social media played a role as well?

A: Social media has quickly become a central health communication tool. This is not surprising given that many of us are online for significant portions of the day. The user-generated nature of social media permits mental health experiences and information to be shared. For example, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter offer opportunities to obtain peer support and mental health information online. (There are more than 20 billion views of #mentalhealth on Tiktok.) At the same time, there are also unmistakable mental health challenges associated with social media use (e.g., cyberbullying can lead to increased depression, mental health mis/disinformation, etc.). In this way, social media is a rather paradoxical mental health promotion tool, possessing both a positive and negative side.

Q: Celebrity endorsement and acknowledgment has also added to the growing discussion around mental health. Rapper Meghan Thee Stallion launched a mental health website recently featuring��links to free therapy organizations and other mental health resources like helplines. Do the news headlines and conversation signal there’s a real shift around people’s approach to their mental health? Or does this feel like a catchy phrase without much substance?

A: Within the past 31 months, I have been invited to give talks at multiple local schools about pediatric mental health. There is certainly more awareness and conversations around mental health. In my opinion, awareness and conversations are a nice start but in and of themselves are insufficient for truly changing how our society views people with mental health challenges and mental health disorders. At the individual level – especially in younger generations such as Gen Z and Millennials – mental health is now considered much like physical health. Celebrities like Rapper Meghan Thee Stallion and broader celebrity culture are particularly influential for younger generations. In this way, more celebrities could help to facilitate mental health promotion and encourage mental health to be considered much like physical health. Efforts to continue the focus on mental health should also not fall entirely on the feet of today’s younger generations. Health care professionals – not just those focused on mental health but also those working in primary care settings – could become stronger and more vocal advocates on social media to further educate the public about mental health conditions and challenge mental health stigma.

To continue this seismic shift in attitude, individuals need to continue to press for policy level initiatives to provide improved access and availability of evidence-based and culturally competent mental health treatment. To truly move this issue forward in a meaningful way, mental health stigma reduction should not focus on simply public education and attitude change. Rather, legislative and policy level changes are likely required to further people’s approach to their own mental health.

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |
news.syr.edu |

Syracuse University

As a mobile app wellness leader and through virtual experiences, Headspace helps to create habits supportive of mental health. Complementing the , Headspace further places students in the driver’s seat of their unique health and wellness journeys.

“I believe a big part of college is not only challenging yourself academically but also learning to take care of yourself,” says Yvonne Chen-Yih Kuo ’24, Barnes Center at The Arch peer educator. “Headspace allows students to step back and take time for themselves, to sleep better, while also find opportunities to learn different ways of mindfulness and self care.”

Syracuse University Student Premium Headspace Memberships
Free Headspace premium membership is available to Syracuse University students on a first-come, first-served basis and provides the opportunity to grow availability. Detailed instructions for creating and linking existing accounts are available on the .

“Oftentimes as a college student I am physically and mentally busy. By using Headspace I have been able to take time to clear my thoughts and practice meditation frequently,” says�� Tianna Carrington ’23, Barnes Center at The Arch peer educator. “I encourage students to use Headspace as a free “on the go” guide to help with everyday college student stressors.”

Headspace highlights include but are not limited to the following:

• Learn the fundamentals of meditation and mindfulness directly from experts.
• Customizable experiences support managing stress, sleep, self-esteem, focus, movement and more.
• Sleep sounds and bedtime exercises.

For more information, visit the . For questions, email the Barnes Center at The Arch or call 315.443.8000.

Purser is an associate professor at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and researches issues around urban poverty, homelessness, and housing.�� Last week, the mayor and the governor announced there will be a zero-tolerance policy for people sleeping in trains or in stations or breaking other rules such as littering, aggressive behavior, or loitering.

From Purser:

Gretchen Purser

“I certainly share the view that this is an urgent problem. But the way this story is framed—around escalating crime rates in the subways and the growing discomfort of fare-paying passengers—overlooks the unrelenting vulnerability and violence experienced by the homeless, who are struggling to find both safety and shelter,” said Purser. “Policies that criminalize the homeless, as this one unequivocally does, will only exacerbate the problem. Countless of those riding the trains because they have nowhere else to go will soon find themselves behind bars.”

“Until housing is recognized as a basic human right, homelessness will remain a chronic social problem. The solution to that problem isn’t to engage in therapeutic policing, but to transform housing policy to ensure that everyone has access to safe and secure housing,” said Purser.

To schedule an interview, please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, director of media relations at Syracuse University, at��ejmbuqe@syr.edu��or 412-496-0551.

Leading the workshop will be Cory Wallack, Ph.D., executive director of health and wellness at the Barnes Center at The Arch. Peter Vanable, Graduate School dean and professor of psychology, will serve as the facilitator. Dean Vanable will discuss the scope of graduate student mental health challenges with reference to current data. He will address the critical importance of the advising relationship in terms of student success and vulnerability to mental health concerns. Wallack will describe some of the ways that mental health issues are likely to manifest in graduate students; if, when and how to make a referral; and the various interventions and treatment options available through the Barnes Center and other resources at the University and beyond.

Drawing on representative case histories and polling data from participants, the workshop will prompt reflection and engagement around complex issues. Topics may include how to respond appropriately to different scenarios around mental health concerns, negotiating proximity and distance in the mentoring dynamic, culturally inflected understandings of mental health and the possible coexistence of mental health challenges for faculty mentors. Recognizing the deep intertwining of the academic and the personal in students’ lives, the workshop aims to help faculty consider how they can most effectively support their advisees and students, with the goal of promoting retention, degree completion and career transition.

Afton Kapuscinski

For many families, this holiday season will be the first that loved ones are gathering together again after a socially-distanced year apart. It will bring a sense of relief for many, but for others, a return of stress and anxiety that comes with large gatherings, travel and busy schedules.

What can you do to manage your own feelings and anxieties around the upcoming holiday season?

is the director of the at Syracuse University and an assistant teaching professor of psychology. She provides helpful steps to navigate difficult political conversations with polarized family members.

Dr. Kapuscinski says:

“Many people have mixed feelings about jumping back into a busy holiday schedule. For most of us, there are both enjoyable and unpleasant aspects to large family gatherings. We may also feel a pull to be present at family events because it is meaningful to people we love. It may be helpful to identify favorite and least favorite aspects of the holidays, so that you can consciously choose ways to minimize the bad while accentuating the good.”

Q: Given last year’s socially-distanced holiday, how are some people feeling about coming together again?��

A: While many people are eager to gather after missed opportunities during the pandemic, others may have appreciated some of the perks that last year’s subdued holiday season offered. Although 2021 presented plenty of challenges, social distancing may have reduced common stressors associated with holidays, including traveling, hosting houseguests, navigating tense family dynamics, and finding the time to fit everything in.

Additionally, financial pressures for a subset of people may have actually been reduced last year, with less time off from work, reduced pressure related to gift-giving, and no travel costs.

Although most people report experiencing substantial positive emotions like love and connectedness during the holidays, the stressful aspects may now be more apparent after last year’s respite from them.��Women may have especially enjoyed the break from hectic holidays because they are much more likely to experience increased stress and difficulty relaxing during the holiday season.��Women typically assume the vast majority of responsibility in families for planning and hosting.�� Additionally, a major source of anxiety for women at this time of year involves concern about eating, maintaining diets, and avoiding weight gain – a concern related to our culture’s tendency to spotlight women’s appearances.

Q: To your points about the increased stress and anxiety that sometimes come with hosting duties, what should you do if you really enjoyed having a more low-key holiday season and don’t want to return to large gatherings?��

A: Many people have mixed feelings about jumping back into a busy holiday schedule. For most of us, there are both enjoyable and unpleasant aspects to large family gatherings.��We may also feel a pull to be present at family events because it is meaningful to people we love.��It may be helpful to identify favorite and least favorite aspects of the holidays, so that you can consciously choose ways to minimize the bad while accentuating the good. For example, if you do not like to travel but enjoy seeing family, consider inviting family to your home. ��We can easily get emotionally “stuck” by believing we do not have a choice surrounding holiday plans, and the pandemic may have taught us the valuable lesson that can make changes.

Q: Can you provide some general tips to approach the holidays in a way that prioritizes mental health?

• Ask yourself whether striving for perfection may be causing some of your stress, and consider whether the details you become fixated on are actually of significant consequence in the big picture.�� Give yourself permission to be present and enjoy yourself rather than taking a bird’s-eye view to make everything “just so”.
• Make room for changes and new traditions that are consistent with your own values, while accepting that others may not always share your preferences.�� Be willing to compromise if possible with family who have different preferences.
• If you take on disproportionate responsibility, ask for help and delegate tasks.�� Do not assume that others know you are struggling.
• If commercialization of the holidays bothers you, suggest making a change to how your family approaches gift-giving, and/or choose to emphasize community services and charitable contributions.
• If interpersonal dynamics are a major source of stress at the holidays, plan ahead for how you can reduce the chances of encountering problematic interactions, and plan your responses to problematic conversations ahead of time.

To request interviews or get more information please contact Daryl Lovell, media relations manager, at dalovell@syr.edu or 315.380.0206

Shannon Monnat

Shannon Monnat, associate professor of sociology and Lerner Chair for Public Health Promotion, is the principal investigator for a five-year research project that will examine the impacts of state COVID-19 mitigation policies on adult psychological health, drug overdose and suicide.

Funded with $1.95 million from the National Institutes of Health, the project seeks to identify how the policies U.S. states enacted to combat the spread and adverse effects of COVID-19 may have affected psychological health and mortality from drug overdose and suicide among working age and older adults in both the immediate and longer terms.

“The findings will be essential for informing better policy responses in future pandemics,” says Monnat, who also serves as co-director of the Maxwell School’s Policy, Place and Population Health Lab (P3H), housed within the Aging Studies Institute (ASI).

The study’s co-investigators from the ASI include Jennifer Karas Montez, University Professor of Sociology, Gerald B. Cramer Faculty Scholar in Aging Studies, director of the Center for Aging and Policy Studies and co-director of P3H; Douglas Wolf, Gerald B. Cramer Professor of Aging Studies and professor of public administration and international affairs; and Emily Wiemers, associate professor of public administration and international affairs. David Wheeler, associate professor of biostatistics at Virginia Commonwealth University, will also serve as a co-investigator.

The project will provide novel large-scale data on adult COVID-19 experiences and well-being and use the variation in policy responses across states to shed light on which policies and combinations of policies are consequential for adult psychological health and related mortality, the mechanisms through which policies affect those outcomes and the population subgroups that may have been disproportionately impacted.

Marfilius discussed mental health issues among veterans and those actively serving, saying, “We can do more. We are a very reactive society, and I believe it’s in our best interest to view the veteran across the lifespan.”

Kenneth Marfilius, Assistant Teaching Professor

is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College. Professor��Marfilius��specializes in military mental health, veteran social work, suicide prevention, and military culture and social work practice.

Prof. Marfilius is available to discuss and answer questions about post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in the case of veterans and members of the military. Utilizing personal experience and academic work, he details what active duty and veteran populations may be facing in the coming days.

He says:

“With the current situation in Afghanistan, the ‘forever war’, it has now arrived in the living rooms of all Americans with a tragic end. I have heard from active duty and veteran populations the feeling of the need to do something in this moment, often rendering them to feel helpless. It is important to note the feelings about the current situation��are normal��reactions to an abnormal and complex situation.

“Feelings do not make veterans weak, but strong. It is acceptable to be experiencing a range of emotions. Paying attention to those feelings while talking with fellow veterans, active service members, family members, and friends is a sign of strength. Most veterans, and civilians alike, are affected by tragedies and experience some level of psychological distress. The distress can range from feelings of sadness, irritability, fatigue, anxiety and even anger.

“Both in my work as a former United States Air Force officer serving in the role of active-duty mental health provider and in my work with the Department of Veteran Affairs, I have experienced first-hand the many protective factors that come with individuals who have served in combat operations. Factors that include sense of purpose, feeling of belonging, social support, camaraderie, and the drive to do what’s best for all of humanity. Sacrificing oneself for a safer nation and a safer world. In my clinical practice and research, our nation’s service members who have experienced post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, loss, suffering, and grief often state that if presented with the opportunity, they would go back to serve with their brothers and sisters in arms. This desire speaks to both the unfailing resolve of our service members and the difficulty they experience when reintegrating into life at home.

“Mental health should be a top priority for these service members and their families in both honoring sacrifices made and re-engaging with loved ones here at home. Tending to one’s mental health now during a time of crisis is a preventive measure to help mitigate the potential long-lasting impacts. Individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as severe mental health disorders and/or the experience of adverse childhood experiences, are particularly vulnerable during times of crisis and must have access to quality mental health care and ensure their basic needs are being met. When mental health is left untreated for extended periods of time, there could be several consequences. For example, waiting to seek treatment could impact relationships, occupational, and social functioning. People with untreated mental illness make up a significant number (close to 1/3) of Americans experiencing homelessness.

“There is strength in seeking help.��There is purpose in caring for one another.��Reaching out for social support protects all of us.�� You, your family, the ones who care about you, your communities. A stronger veteran community is a stronger American society.

“To the family members, caregivers, and civilians who are wondering what they can do, it’s simple; call a veteran or military member today and ask how they are doing.��You never know, that call just may save a life. Veterans looking for help can find the information on their local facility’s����or call the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, and press 1, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications
M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

That’s why the School of Social Work in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, the School of Education’s Department of Counseling and Human Services, the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Upstate University’s Psychiatry Faculty Practice have joined forces to create a collaborative training program to serve high-need and high-demand populations in urban and rural areas in the Central New York region.

The project is funded by a grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA’s mission is improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.�� The grant will provide more than $408,000 in the first year and an anticipated $1.24 million over four years to fund the effort.

Carrie J. Smith, professor and interim chair of the School of Social Work, says the collaborative participation of social work, counseling and human services, psychology and Upstate Medical University’s department of psychiatry is a distinctive model for increasing the capacity and availability of mental health services in Central New York, including a partnership with the Onondaga Nation.

Through scholarships for trainees, enhanced field placement opportunities, a focus on improving services for people in high-need and high-demand areas, interprofessional collaboration and scholarly research, the project seeks to improve the availability and quality of mental health services for children, adolescents and families.

“This project is working at several different levels,” Smith says. “At the system level, we’re trying to break down silos between professionals in different mental health disciplines. We hope to build collaboration between the agencies serving local children and families and our own training programs at Syracuse and Upstate.

“At the workforce development level, we know that often trainees stay in the local area. Whether they are licensed counselors, psychologists, social workers or psychiatrists, if they stay in Central New York, they’ll have a built-in network of colleagues and an understanding of how to work together,” Smith adds. “And, of course, we want to improve the availability and quality of mental health care for children and families in our region.”

The project will also focus on early identification of behavioral health services in the context of primary care. The project leaders stress that mental health, like physical health, is improved by proactive screening and preventative care. Early intervention seeks to identify ways to support children and families before concerns become a crisis.

Derek X. Seward, associate professor and chair of counseling and human services in the School of Education, is excited about the opportunities for students.

“I think it will be a wonderful opportunity for our clinical mental health counseling students whose training is very focused,” Seward says. “This project will provide more richness and training around working in interdisciplinary teams, which they normally don’t get until they begin their field experiences.�� Most licensed counselors practice in interdisciplinary settings so this early exposure to other mental health professionals will serve our students well.”

Melissa Luke, Dean’s Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services, stresses the benefit for professionals working at the training sites where students complete their field experiences.

“We are planning to provide ongoing training to site supervisors and other licensed practitioners who may be interested in expanding their skills in areas such as interprofessional collaboration, helping patients and families find accessible services and specific topics like trauma-informed care and cultural understanding,” Luke says. The project team believes that this kind of capacity-building can help facilitate greater access to support services, counseling and mental health care in all kinds of settings.

Nayla Khoury, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Upstate Medical University, believes that interprofessional training benefits all mental health professionals.

“We have a dire shortage of child and adolescent providers here in Central New York.�� The pandemic has increased need for mental health services, and we will be seeing its effects well into the future,” Khoury says. “Interprofessional education for medical students and psychiatry residents reflects how community-based care really works and prepares them to more effectively support children and families in a way that is cognizant of cultural and socioeconomic differences.”

As part of the project, Khoury will be collaborating with the Onondaga Nation to enhance behavioral health services.

Tracy Walker, director of field relations in the School of Social Work, will be working to find interprofessional field placements for all students involved in the project, regardless of academic discipline. She is excited about the potential opportunities.

“I am always trying to find the win-win between what a field experience site needs and what students are interested in,” Walker says. “This project opens up opportunities for students to gain broader experience in the field that they will take into their practice after graduation.�� It also offers new ways for Syracuse University and Upstate to partner with supervisors and practitioners at our field sites.”

Bryce Hruska

Summer is vacation season, and here’s good news about those breaks from the daily grind: They’re not only fun, they’re also good for you.

Specifically, they’re good for your health, and even more specifically, your heart health. That was the conclusion reached in a study led by , an assistant professor of public health in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, and , the Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health in the Falk College.

The in June 2019 by Psychology & Health, the official journal of the . In this Q&A, Hruska discusses the study and how it connects to our day-to-day lives, the benefits of a vacation vs. “staycation,” and why we still need to be cautious when traveling for a vacation.

He states, “EMS workers encounter a variety of occupational challenges that can impose a significant mental health burden. We wanted to better identify the specific challenges workers encounter each day on the job. And, just as important, we wanted to better understand what protective behaviors EMS workers naturally engage in to navigate these challenges and maintain their mental health.”

Haynie discusses the mental health implications of war on veterans saying, “It’s true that the complexity and scale of the mental health challenges to be addressed in this community is daunting. However, our collective objective is simple and clear. As one expert described to me, we need innovations and policy that empowers veterans challenged by PTSD to both survive and thrive.”

Kenneth Marfilius, Assistant Teaching Professor

is a veteran and an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College. Professor��Marfilius��specializes in military mental health, veteran social work, suicide prevention, and military culture and social work practice.

Prof. Marfilius is available to discuss and answer questions about post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in the case of veterans and members of the military.

He says:

“Post-traumatic stress disorder is a complicated, complex topic — it does not discriminate. We do know that prior trauma is a significant risk factor for the development of PTSD. What we see in the research is this notion of adverse childhood experiences or ACES, which are traumatic experiences that occur during childhood or adolescence, such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or violence in the home. There is evidence to support ACES does influence one’s health across the entire life span.

“In order to tackle prevention, we must examine the predisposing factors and vulnerabilities. I believe that to really sustain improvement in veteran health – we must first understand the critical need to sustain improvement in the overall public health. These veterans are civilians before entering the military and when they transition out of the military, they are often integrated right back into the communities they came from before service—which makes this a societal issue and community-wide effort.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications
M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

Joshua M. Grossman ’03
Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications and Marketing
T��202.227.9250
jmgrossm@syr.edu

Jin Zhao is a fourth year Ph.D. student working toward his career goal of becoming a practicing psychologist. His qualifying exam project is researching Asian college students and how their experiences of microaggression are related to their attitudes about going to see a professional mental health service provider. Asian mental health is a subject that Zhao has always been interested in researching. Before coming to Syracuse, Zhao worked as a case manager at the only Asian language community clinic for substance use on the East Coast.

“I always wanted to serve my community and better understand it because there are not a lot of psychologists who can speak an Asian language and understand Asian populations,” Zhao says. While barriers exist in the United States for every group to address mental health and receive therapy, these challenges are especially prevalent for Asian communities because there is such a stigma around mental health, says Zhao. “It’s a taboo subject for a lot of the more conservative Asian communities,” Zhao said. Aside from the rarity of finding a therapist that speaks an Asian language, it is difficult to find therapists who are sensitive to the challenges that are found in different Asian cultures.

To help address the lack of culturally informed therapists for Asians and Asian Americans, Zhao first got involved with a Facebook group called “Subtle Asian Mental Health.” That has since been rolled into the “Asian Mental Health Collective.” Zhao volunteers his time and leads the Listeners Program. This program is a community-based peer mental health support team that provides free sessions of supportive listening for anyone interested in a session. The group currently has 52,700 users and people from every continent. SU News spoke to Zhao about his work with the Asian Mental Health Collective.

What is your contribution to the Asian Mental Health Collective?

I lead the Listeners Program and it has grown quite a lot since I inherited it. A lot of work went into front-loading efforts to design and create a community mental health service program from scratch. Now people can sign up for a session, and then we will assign them to a listener. I recruited listeners who either have training in therapy, are clinicians or grad students who work in human services. A few of them are Ph.D. students from Syracuse.

What is your role in the Listeners Program?

Leading the program involves coordinating personnel and coming up with novel ways to reach more users and support our volunteers. A lot of the work goes into training Listeners to use counseling skills to help people talk about difficult subjects. Trauma history can be especially prevalent, but for many people, getting help can be difficult. For example, women with sexual trauma and physical abuse reported difficulties in talking about their experience. This may be because it is a taboo subject in their culture, or no one believed them. Since beginning the program, we have held almost 400 sessions. There is a high need for it.

How many Listeners are volunteering their time?

Right now, we have eight to 10 listeners. We are lucky to have licensed therapists who volunteer their time to supervise the listeners. We also have a team of people who are constantly tracking data, writing training manuals and policies, and taking care of our logistics. In total, it is a team of 20 volunteers. But the amazing thing is that we all do it for free. We are constantly working, and it is amazing to see how committed people are to making this service run smoothly.

What is a typical experience for Asian Americans in therapy and how are you providing more culturally sensitive resources?

The history of therapy and therapy training originally was geared towards white middle-class people. How those theories conceptualize problems implicitly fits within the mold of white American culture. But, when therapists try to apply these theories to other cultures and different socioeconomic classes without adaptation, it is often inappropriate. I think one very blatant difference is conflict resolution. Many Asian cultures approach conflict by first considering how other people might react. Whenever we talk about interpersonal problems, we do not outright prioritize our emotional reactions, but rather we comment on the other person’s possible struggles and misunderstandings. Like the concept of “face” for maintaining our relationships. Face is an aspect of one’s reputation. For example, if I angrily confront someone and make a scene, then I lose my reputation. It is like a collective reputation for your groups or reputation for yourself. In this instance, if I do something outwardly where people can see my behavior, it looks bad despite any justification. It will look bad on me and my groups. For therapists who do not fully understand the nuances in our cultural differences, they may see this as submissiveness and ignoring personal feelings because Western cultures value individualism and assertiveness more.

Why are Asian Americans one of the critically under-served groups in mental health?

For many Asians who have had therapists from a different cultural background, they did not feel heard and did not go back to therapy. Or that maybe in their locations, they do not have access to therapists at all. Many folks in this group come from parts of the world where mental health is very much treated like a medical problem; the cost for therapy can be prohibitive, or that there are not mental health services in their healthcare infrastructure to help them. Government funding is also lacking, clinics can really use more money to do outreach in Asian communities. Education about mental health is integral to spreading awareness and help normalize seeking help. Fundamentally, there are not enough therapist trainees who are racial or ethnic minorities and training programs that address cultural differences. There is also a pervasive “model minority” myth that suggests Asians do not have problems both health-wise and socioeconomically, which is why there is such a lack of concern and attention on our communities.

Subtle Asian Mental Health started out by addressing access to care. As it grew bigger, the administrators of the group decided to expand it to work with different Asian mental health professionals and connect with them. They wanted different platforms to advocate for Asian mental health, to destigmatize the concept of mental health, and encourage people to feel less shame about going to therapy. We have a database that records as much information as possible about Asian therapists from around the country and register them on this database. We send out monthly newsletters about current Asian mental health projects and tools that are very digestible for folks that deal with anxiety or depression. We have weekly discussion groups, roundtables and support groups. There are so many of these projects that I cannot track them all, I am just one small part of it. Subtle Asian Mental Health joined together with other related projects and we now call it the Asian Mental Health Collective. It is a large grassroots network made up of advocates who are passionate about mental health and folks wanting to find out more about how to help themselves.

If you are struggling with feelings of stress, grief, isolation or overwhelm, consider taking advantage of the program’s , which covers up to six visits with a licensed, credentialed counselor. Carebridge also offers assistance with parenting, eldercare, college planning, personal finances, legal concerns and more. There are also a variety of virtual learning and growth opportunities that faculty and staff are encouraged to take advantage of in the coming weeks.

Upcoming and On-Demand Webinars

• Stress Check-In: Looking Ahead to 2021
  It is not unusual to need extra support during the final days of the year. Carebridge is offering two virtual check-ins to remind participants to make time for self-care, which is as a key component to managing stress and remaining resilient. Time will be allotted for Q&A, as well as sharing, and all participants will remain anonymous. or .
• Stress Check-In: Develop Your Mental Strength for the New Year
  Having a positive mindset is an essential element in being resilient. This group will help participants embrace their inner strengths and challenge themselves to develop new skills to enhance a positive mindset. Participation is anonymous. .
• Mindfulness Practice to Recharge
  Learn how mindfulness meditation and techniques can assist you with easing tension and recharging energy. Check in with your body and use your breath to establish the energy of mindfulness in your life. This practice session is appropriate for both beginners and experienced meditators. .
• Stress Management for the Holidays
  While the 2020 holiday season may look different, doing too much during the holidays can add a lot of stress to your life. Instead of “bah humbug!” learn practical tips for dealing with stress that occurs around the holidays so they can be a joyful, safe and peaceful time. .

“In the pursuit of pioneering health and wellness, the Barnes Center at The Arch has demonstrated continued dedication to not only enhancing the student experience but pivoting resources and services to meet evolving needs of the campus community,” says Mansi Brat, Ph.D., Barnes Center at The Arch staff therapist and group therapy program coordinator. “We encourage students to explore services and to connect with the health and wellness team to learn more.”

Restorative Conversations: Healing from Racial and Social Injustices Virtual Drop-in Group
Drop-in groups are free, virtual and available to all Syracuse University students. Participation is flexible, allowing students to join all sessions or during preferred dates.

In light of our current global environment, many individuals have faced increased race-related stress and oppression related to their unique identities. Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling is offering a restorative conversational space for students to process lived experiences related to their race and ethnicity. In this virtual drop-in group, students will have the opportunity to engage in reflective conversations around racial and social justice, connect with their peers and find support from group facilitators.

Fall 2020 Virtual Group Therapy
In the free weekly virtual group setting, students struggling with similar concerns can share feedback with each other, staff therapists and learn new ways of coping. Explore highlights below and the complete list on the . To participate, call the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000 to schedule an initial consultation with a therapist to discuss your interest in joining a group.

• Supporting Students with Anxiety – This group is for students who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and experience difficulty with stress management.
• Gender and Sexuality Affirmative Therapy Group – This group is for students who are looking to explore and discuss aspects of gender and sexuality, as well as the intersections of identities.
• Understanding Yourself and Others (Undergraduate and Graduate) – Would you like to feel more comfortable with yourself and in interactions with others? In a safe and supportive environment, this interpersonal process group offers an opportunity to relate to others who are experiencing similar concerns.

With questions or to learn more, visit the , call 315.443.8000 or email BarnesCenter@syr.edu.

Earlier this semester, nearly 200 faculty and staff took part in the Happiness Experiment. Everyone who registered received a jolt of sunshine in their inboxes three times a week. The uplifting emails were courtesy of the Wellness Initiative and encouraged participants to integrate components of happiness, gratitude and compassion into their daily lives.

“It’s good to focus on things that make us smile during turbulent times,” one participant wrote.

Said another, “The Happiness Experiment helped me combat my ever-present depression.”

Many agree that the experiment helped them take responsibility for their own happiness, leading to more fulfilment at home and work as well as in the community.

Gail Grozalis

Gail Grozalis, the initiative’s executive director, is not surprised by the results. She says that as COVID-19 wears on, the mental health of the University’s workforce is a top priority.

“We need to mindfully and intentionally make time for things that bring us joy and benefit our health. Mental health activities not only improve our mood and productivity, but also reduce stress and anxiety,” she says, adding that other similar programs are in the offing.

Since March, the Wellness Initiative has increased the scope of its mental health and emotional well-being programming. This is particularly true with Carebridge, the University’s faculty and staff assistance program. In addition to expanding its network of counselors who provide telephonic and video mental health support, Carebridge has uploaded numerous coronavirus-related webinars and has formed online support groups, both live and on-demand.

“All of these things help us cope with the simultaneous stressors caused by the pandemic,” Grozalis says.
To learn more about Carebridge’s suite of integrated, accessible and confidential services and resources, visit .

Information about the Wellness Initiative’s current and upcoming offerings is at .

Emotional well-being resources may be found at .

is an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College and a veteran. Professor��Marfilius��specializes in military mental health, veteran social work, suicide prevention, substance use prevention and treatment and military culture and social work practice.

Prof. Marfilius is available for an interview to discuss suicide prevention. For use in your stories, he answers four questions related to suicide prevention and mental health awareness:

——————–

Who is impacted by suicide the most?

Professor Marfilius: “Suicide affects all of us. It does not discriminate in terms of background, gender, age, race, etc. Suicidal thoughts are also more common than we think, but should not be normalized because it often indicates more serious, underlying issues.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published an����that found during June 24-30, 2020, U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse conditions associated with COVID-19. Younger adults, adults of racial ethnic minorities, essential workers and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation.

“Instead of leaving with feelings of guilt, shame and further stigma, we have to continually provide avenues that do not prevent our loved ones from talking openly about the loss in their life. We also have to assist in helping them find resources to navigate the tragedy and often traumatic experience of loss.”

Are there any warning signs someone may be considering suicide?

Professor Marfilius: “There are some warning signs, but no one particular indicator. They include substance use and abuse, depression that goes untreated, an individual threatening to kill themselves. This could also include posts on social media about death or suicide, seeking access to lethal means, and displaying extreme mood swings. These are just a few of the warning signs we should look out for and be aware of.”

What advice do you have for veterans experiencing loneliness as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Professor Marfilius: “No one will be able to get through this pandemic alone. And even when they’re experiencing a rise in mental health challenges, or suicidal ideation, we work to get them connected to professionals and wrap around support from their peers, community and loved ones. Social support is one of our greatest protective factors. Fortunately, through the use of innovative technologies like telehealth services, which I only expect to increase exponentially, we can continue to stay socially connected and really care for one another while staying physically separated.”

What can I do today to support someone considering suicide?

Professor Marfilius: “Actively listening, expressing empathy and being willing to be a part of someone’s integrated network of support are very helpful ways to support someone who may be considering suicide. Most notably, be sure to express that they’re not alone. It’s important to engage in this language so that these individuals do not feel othered and begin to isolate themselves.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications

M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., 2^nd Fl., Syracuse, NY 13202
news.syr.edu |

Syracuse University

“Mental Health Awareness Week should be important to Syracuse University students, as well as students at universities across the country, because it is a time to realize that you’re not in this alone and that is OK to not be OK,” says Mackenzie Mertikas, president of the Student Association. “There are countless resources within the Barnes Center at The Arch to help students with physical and mental health, nutrition, sleep and more. Students may use the Walters Pet Therapy Room in addition to light therapy and massage chairs within the to help relieve stress. As college students, we are all under a lot of stress and pressure between all of the things that we have going on. Mental Health Awareness Week is a time to recognize that there are so many people that are going through similar things and that it is OK to get help.”

Campuswide events begin with . Within the Barnes Center at The Arch, students are invited to Destress for Success from 10:30 a.m. to noon in room 308. Swing by the Quad to explore health and wellness resources, including the Health Hub from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and grab free swag including T-shirts, stickers, stress balls and other goodies. To show their solidarity in the mental health journeys of others, students will have the opportunity to write kind messages to friends or to other students on postcards and tie green ribbons throughout the week. With opportunities daily, don’t miss your chance to stop at the to visit with your favorite furry friends.

The campus community is invited to attend the , on Tuesday, Oct. 8, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the HBC Gifford Auditorium. This panel discussion will highlight the intersectionality of mental health. will be hosted at varying times on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10, within room 308 of the Barnes Center at The Arch. Starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, the in Hendricks Chapel is open to the campus community and will feature performances from students and faculty surrounding mental health and resiliency.

For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week, contact Mackenzie Mertikas, Student Association president, by email at mamertik@syr.edu. For more information on mental health resources within the Barnes Center at The Arch, contact counseling by email at BarnesCenter@syr.edu or by calling 315.443.8000.

Story by Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience communications intern Carina Coestad ’22.����

is a visiting teacher professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College and a veteran. Professor��Marfilius��has a specialization in military mental health, veteran social work, suicide prevention, substance use prevention and treatment and military culture and social work practice. He says the decision to provide airmen with time off is a step in the right direction and pushes for more integrated networks of support for service members and veterans.

Marfilius says:

“Suicide prevention is very complex, and there’s no��one��thing that we can do that will solve this; however, there are certainly steps we can take as a society to help prevent suicide.

“There are risk and protective factors for suicide. Suicide prevention aims to reduce the risk factors while increasing the protective factors. Protective factors are environmental and personal characteristics; such as, one’s ability to adapt to change (coping skills), having a social support network, stable housing, sense of purpose or meaning in life, and access to quality mental health care. On the contrary, risk factors can include but not limited to access to lethal means, social isolation, history of mental health disorders, and lack of access to quality mental health care.

“There has been a considerable increase in suicide prevention efforts, particularly from the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs administration; however, this continues to be a difficult topic to study. The decision to provide airmen with time off is certainly a step in the right direction.

“Air Force leaders are prioritizing the mental health of their airmen, demonstrating the need to understand certain situations and risk factors leading to suicide in the Air Force. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright stated, ‘We lose more Airmen to suicide than any other single enemy, even more than combat.’ This comment demonstrates the magnitude of suicide as a leading public health crisis, demanding further discussion and action from military and civilian leaders.

“Military populations are not protected from the same suicide risk factors their civilian counterparts experience. No single agency or organization can prevent suicide. As a result, it is critical that we work together as a society on sustaining the improvement in the overall public health of this nation. This needs to be done at the local community, county, state, and national level. We must actively listen, express empathy and be willing to be part of what I refer to as an integrated network of support. And perhaps most notably, expressing that they are not alone. It’s vitally important to engage in this language so individuals who may be at risk for suicide do not feel ‘othered’��and begin to isolate, which only perpetuates the risk for suicide. A strong nation leads to a stronger military and veteran population across the life span—both physical and mentally.”

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Marketing and Communications

T��315.443.1184 ����M��315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |

The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., 2^nd Fl., Syracuse, NY 13202
news.syr.edu |

Syracuse University

“Many clients wait long periods of time or are apprehensive about talking with someone skilled enough to listen and guide them through the rough waves in life. This partnership will change lives and homes,” says Merlin Merrain, M.P.H., SCC director of health services. The new services are provided by Falk graduate students supervised by American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)-approved mental health professionals. Appointments are available weekdays and evenings and can be made by calling 315.671.5817 or 315.671.5835.

Brandon Hollie G’21, a second-year Ph.D. student in marriage and family therapy, turned his research interest of decreasing violence in urban communities into action. His research, published recently by the National Council on Family Relations, examines gun violence as a symptom of past inter-generationally transmitted injustices focuses on preventing gun and gang violence in the black community. Hollie began counseling clients at the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility this fall and is already seeing an increase in participation.

“Increased access to treatment in impoverished neighborhoods is one way to reduce violence, and strengthening the bond between individuals and families could impact prevention and intervention of gun violence,” says Hollie.

According to Tracey Reichert-Schimpff, who directs the couple and family therapy clinic in the Falk College and is a doctoral student in the marriage and family therapy program, “working at this site offers students the opportunity to develop relationships with other programs that are part of the setting. This certainly enhances knowledge and increases sensitivity to and connection with the local community.”

Collaborations led by Falk College addressing neighborhood violence and trauma date back to 2008. During a class focused on the signs of alcohol abuse, Timothy “Noble” Jennings-Bey, director of the Trauma Response Team, connected street life to addiction. That is, why do young men engage in destructive criminal, violent behavior? He shared his theory with Falk public health professors Dessa Bergen-Cico and Sandra Lane. Their ongoing collaboration has resulted in 11 journal articles, one book chapter, a video and dozens of media interviews.

In addition to Jennings-Bey, Bergen-Cico and Lane, partners now include Falk public health faculty David Larsen and Arthur Owora; Tracey Reichert��Schimpff and Linda Stone Fish from Falk’s Department of Marriage and Family Therapy; Robert A. Rubinstein, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and Robert Keefe, faculty member at the University at Buffalo. Community partners include Frank Fowler, former chief, Syracuse Police Department, and Helen Hudson, Syracuse Common Council president and founder of Mothers Against Gun Violence, among others.

Grant awards from the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York and the John Ben Snow Foundation have supported workshops to help social service professionals, educators, health care practitioners, juvenile justice workers, clergy and mental health counselors learn how to identify and address trauma.

Reichert-Schimpff notes the community collaborations have also increased the awareness and skills of students entering the mental health field. Each year, Jennings-Bey and the team from the Street Addictions Institute, along with Syracuse University faculty, educate MFT students around community violence and street addictions. Students hear directly from community members about how their lives have been impacted by policies and intergenerational injustice. Students also visit SCC to become familiar with available resources.

Other on-going trauma-informed activities in Falk College include the following:

• a training program funded by the National Science Foundation and supported through the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, to prepare military veterans to conduct trauma-related research with other veterans;
• coursework and research on trauma-informed mindfulness-based programs for veterans their families and others impacted by violence;
• how veterans’ experiences of complex and morally fraught circumstances in military service in time of war affect emotional, mental and spiritual health;
• neurobiology of trauma;
• collaborative training models for interpreters and practitioners of psychotherapy;
• trauma resiliency in urban environments;
• turbulent tenancy—evictions in Syracuse;
• promoting school success among at-risk urban adolescents;
• gender-based violence and substance abuse among female adolescents;
• coursework and research in intimate partner violence in the U.S. and neighborhood violence in the U.S. and Caribbean;
• links between neuropsychological executive functions and domestic violence;
• coursework in EMDR Therapy, which relieves many types of psychological distress, and;
• courses and an academic track focused on trauma in medical settings with children.

For more information, visit falk.syr.edu.