Free Group Support Available for First Responders

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) recently announced the implementation of “Coping Circles,” a first-in-the-nation program facilitated by the NYS Office of Mental Health to provide free six-week support and resilience group therapy sessions, held by video or phone and facilitated by licensed mental health professionals. These include special sessions for healthcare workers and first responders, including firefighters.

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has made life more difficult. Coping Circles will help us ensure that New Yorkers who are struggling at this difficult time can receive the support and assistance they need. I am deeply grateful to all the mental health professionals who have answered Governor Cuomo’s call to help provide free services to New Yorkers seeking help.”

New Yorkers interested in joining Coping Circles, and mental health practitioners interested in becoming facilitators, can register here. Coping Circles is available to all New Yorkers, ages 18 and older, in a range of languages and at various times during the day. Specialized Circles will be available for healthcare workers and first responders, survivors of COVID-19 infection, those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, and those who have experienced job loss due to COVID-19. Coping Circles will be available between June 1 and August 31, 2020.

New Yorkers interested in participating in Coping Circles can access a website hosted by OMH on the secure and HIPAA-compliant Redcap server. Prospective participants will be asked to identify:

• Their preference for a video or phone group,
• Their preferred language,
• Their availability, and
• Whether they qualify for one of the specialized Coping Circles, which will be opened if enough participants indicate interest: healthcare worker or first responder, job loss due to COVID-19, survivor of COVID-19 infection, or loss of a loved one to COVID-19.