Remembering Dottie Stoss 
On July 23rd, the Meliora flag flew at half-mast in honor of Dorothy "Dottie" Stoss. Dottie was a psychiatric nurse on our inpatient units and Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program for decades. In the words of her colleague and supervisor Carole Farley-Toombs, Dottie "was one of a kind and an unparalleled patient advocate long before 'patient centered care' was a term." LEARN MORE >>>

Hochang Benjamin "Ben" Lee To Receive 2019 Don R. Lipsitt Award
Hochang Benjamin (Ben) Lee, MD will be honored with the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry's 2019 Don R. Lipsitt Award for Achievement in Integrated and Collaborative Care. The award recognizes excellence and innovation in the integration of mental health with other medical care through collaborative care. LEARN MORE >>>

Family Therapy Training Program Selected for Simulation Project
The Institute for the Family's Family Therapy Training Program has been selected for a simulation grant for Fall 2019 from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The simulation project will be investigating the use of mixed-reality simulations to improve training for marriage and family therapists. LEARN MORE >>>

Injury Control Research Center Heads to Denver
The Injury Control and Research Center on Suicide Prevention (ICRC-S), led by Eric Caine, MD, held a training institute from June 18-22 in Denver, Colorado. The training was attended by scholars and injury prevention professionals from five states in the Rocky Mountain region as well as URMC faculty members Wendi Cross, PhD, Ann Marie White, EdD, and Yeates Conwell, MD.

Behavioral Health Integration Conference ​Registration Open
Registration for the 4th Annual Behavioral Health Integration Conference is now open. This year's theme, "The Economics of BH Integration: Opportunities to Improve Care While Addressing Social Determinants of Health," focuses on the economic aspects of integrating behavioral health into medical care. LEARN MORE>>>

Self-Care Week at Strong Ties 

Strong Ties's Self-Care Committee held its first Self-Care Week for staff in July. Activities included coloring and a stress ball making kit. Well-U provided goodies including nail polish, tea, aromatherapy lotion, and temporary tattoos.

Crisis Call Center To Start Weekend Hours 
Beginning July 26th, the Crisis Call Center will be offering weekend hours from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The Crisis Call Center connects those experiencing a mental health crisis with a trained counselor who is experienced in crisis management and who can offer information about local services and resources. Plans to expand to 24/7 coverage are underway. The Crisis Call Center can be reached at 1-585-275-8686.

Leadership Changes at EAP 
Beth Danehy, MA, MS, LMFT will be stepping down as Director of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) beginning August 16th. Beth has been with EAP since 2012 and was promoted to the Director role in 2014. She will be joining the University of Virginia as the Director of Faculty Wellness and Employee Assistance Program. Ann Cornell, PsyD will serve as interim EAP and Behavioral Health Partners (BHP) director until new leadership structure is finalized.

Bridge Art Gallery Partners with Stop the Stigma ROC for Exhibition

The Bridge Art Gallery held a reception on July 25th for their current exhibition, This is the Source of My Strength. This exhibition was held in partnership with Stop the Stigma ROC, a local youth organization dedicated to promoting suicide prevention and raising awareness about mental health. The exhibition features the artwork and creative writing of local middle and high school students. This is the Source of My Strength will show in the gallery until late Fall. 

Psychiatry in the News

• Yeates Conwell, MD shared his concerns about the rise of "rational suicide" in older adults with ABC News.  
• Janet Lewis, MD spoke with Kaiser Health News about "climate grief" and what those experiencing anxiety or depression related to climate change can do to alleviate feelings of stress.

Upcoming Events & Lectures

• Aug. 7: Preparing White Leadership for Race Discussions
• Aug. 14: A Lesson in Redlining and Whiteness in Rochester
• Aug. 14: Opioid Overdose Prevention Training
• Aug. 28 Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
• Oct. 25: The Economics of Behavioral Health Integration
• Ongoing: 66th Rochester Finger Lakes Exhibition