Coping Advice from Our Experts

Advice for Coping

Check out our "Coping with COVID" series to get expert advice on a range of mental health and healthy living topics. Check out the playlist on Youtube.

We've complied some words of advice from our patient and family advisors from Department of Psychiatry Advisory Council of Consumers (DPACC) to help you maintain your mental health during this uncertain time.
Eric Caine, MD gives us a few tips on managing the stress and anxiety you may be experiencing.

In April, Anthony Pisani, PhD, alongside Christine Moutier, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, hosted an international panel discussion on suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel included experts from four continents, including our very own Yeates Conwell, MD and addressed how organizational and healthcare leaders can keep their eyes on suicide prevention while also attending to other pressing needs and concerns.

Yeates Conwell, M.D. and Caroline Silva, Ph.D. spoke with WXXI, 13WHAM News, and WROC on the impact of telepsychiatry and future directions for remote appointments.
Michael Hasselberg, PhD joined Laura Jowly of Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and Vicki Spurr of NAMI Rochester to talk about the value of telepsychiatry and mental health support offered through virtual platforms in an episode of Connections with Evan Dawson.
Catherine Cerulli, J.D., Ph.D. published an article in Democrat and Chronicle on the factors contributing to recent surges in family violence and what you can do to help victims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eric Caine, M.D. discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide risk in an article by USA TODAY. Reaching out to at-risk individuals and fostering social warmth and cohesion, Dr. Caine suggests, may mitigate the increased stress of unemployment and loneliness of self-isolation.

The URMC Expanded Mental Health team partnered with the Children's Institute and the Society for the Protection and Care of Children (SPCC) to create tips sheets outlining best practices in schools, child care and early learning centers as they reopen their doors.
Michael Scharf, MD spoke on the Bob Lonsberry Show on WHAM 1180 about the mental health impacts of being away from school on youth.
In May, several members of Psychiatry- including Hochang Ben Lee, MD, Melissa Heatly, PhD, Aparajita ‘Tuma’ Kuriyan, PhD, Kenya Malcolm, PhD, Linda Alpert-Gillis, PhD, Jim Wallace, MD, and Anthony Pisani, PhD- spoke in a "Virtual Town Hall" focused on strategies for family wellness, resilient parenting, and supporting children during a pandemic.

Anthony Pisani, Ph.D. discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth and ways you can talk with kids about what is going on on a segment of Good Questions Special Report on WHEC.
Kenya Malcolm, Ph.D. discusses how parents can manage and discuss the COVID-19 situation with their children, in an interview with Jennifer Johnson.
Tziporah Rosenberg, Ph.D. spoke with USA TODAY on why the pandemic may be a new source of household tension and how families can navigate it.
Michael Scharf, M.D. joined Elizabeth Murray, D.O., M.B.A. for a discussion on how to prevent accidental and intentional poisonings in children and youth.

Our Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness services are holding a series of monthly webinars dedicated to promoting youth mental health and wellness. Aparajita “Tuma” Kuriyan, PhD, Linda Alpert-Gillis, PhD, and Kenya Malcolm, PhD joined Jason MacDonald, Parent Representative, held the first of these webinar focused on strategies to help cope and maintain safety during the back-to-school season. See a list of resources mentioned in the strategies to help cope and maintain safety during the back-to-school season webinar.

Aparajita “Tuma” Kuriyan, PhD, Linda Alpert-Gillis, PhD, Brianna Daniels, LMHC, Jason McDonald, Parent Representative, and Fabienne Bain, PhD from The Baker Center for Children and Families presented a Community Conversation discussing What to Expect when Looking for and Getting Behavioral Health Services for Children and Teens.

Aparajita "Tuma" Kuriyan, Ph.D, Linda Alpert-Gillis, Ph.D., Laura Cardella, MD joined Carolyn Jacobs, MD, and parent representative Maria Cruz for a Community Conversation discussing what parents/caregivers need to consider when thinking about medication for behavioral/mental health concerns in children. See the slides presented and a list of resources mentioned in the webinar discussing what parents/caregivers need to consider.

Kimberly van Orden, Ph.D. discussed the importance of social connection and how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques can be used to promote a sense of belonging and connection.

Patrick Seche, M.S. and Peer-recovery specialist Kelly Quinn spoke with News 8 WROC Rochester and Spectrum News on the importance of promoting social networks in individuals with substance use disorder and chemical dependency. Seche also discussed ways our Strong Recovery clinic is making sure our patients remain connected during social distancing mandates.
Eric Caine, M.D. and Yeates Conwell, M.D. joined Sara Hopkins of Rochester Regional Health and Ann Marie Cook of Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc. on an episode of Connections to discuss how we can support those who may be isolated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the episode on the WXXI News website.
George Nasra, M.D., M.B.A. spoke with CITY newspaper on the importance of creating new routines in fighting increased isolation due to the COVID-19 virus. Read "Hunkering Down: Coping with the new normal of Coronavirus" for more.

Catherine Cerulli, JD, PhD joined a group of attorneys, doctors and ethicists to discuss and create a one page working document that could help individuals understand what their legal and health needs are to prepare for COVID.