At Arlington Free Clinic, more than half of our patients screen positive for mental/behavioral health needs. In most cases, they are struggling with significant anxiety and depression – many have past experiences of violence or trauma that interfere with the ability to manage overall health.
AFC launched a program to address these important needs in 2002, which has since expanded and developed under the compassionate and skillful eye of Jyl Pomeroy, our mental/behavioral health program manager. Today a talented team of volunteer psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, counselors, instructors, interpreters, and students offer one-onone sessions, support groups, educational workshops – and even the chance to try activating the natural healing processes of the body through yoga and Reiki in order to support physical and emotional well-being.
While Jyl had plans to retire just before the pandemic, we’re so grateful that she has returned to help ensure our patients have on-going access to the mental healthcare they need during this stressful season. AFC has been reaching out to all patients in active treatment to offer phone support by their counselors and opportunities to virtually connect with psychiatrists to ensure that questions get answered and medications are being taken as prescribed with the desired effects. Even though we are seeing fewer patients inside the Clinic during this time of upheaval, we continue to make regular referrals to counselors for patients with
immediate needs due to the stressors of job loss, social isolation, an increase in domestic violence, or understandable anxiety over one’s health & well-being.
Read our entire 2020 Spring Newsletter.
The Helpers of AFC
President’s Message
Dental Update
Adopting Telehealth at AFC
Meeting Critical Non-Medical Needs
Check-in Calls: AFC is Here to Help!
Clinical & Program Updates
Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Matching Grant Opportunity
A Note from a Supporter