Mental health expert Jeanine K. Fitzgerald is ready to teach children and parents behavioral and stress reduction skills to ease stress from COVID-19 worries and remote learning.
“Self-regulation is a complex set of skills that exert influence over
internal sensations and states. These skills are necessary for consistent performance, behavior and school readiness,” said Fitzgerald.
Focused for more than 35 years on education and mental health, Fitzgerald teamed up with Peabody-based North Suburban Jewish Community Center to sponsor a Thursday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. workshop on early childhood and mental health.
In-person attendance takes place at Olio, a wedding business with a large space at 43 Main St, with virtual attendance on Zoom. In-person space is limited and pre registration is required.
Register at: https://nsjcc.org/event/mentalhealthworkshop/
A mother of three, Fitzgerald teaches self-regulation as a way for children with help from adults in their life to avoid chaos characterized by explosiveness, violence, anxiety, substance abuse, impulsivity, hyperactivity, distractibility or mood disorders.
Her instruction reflects North Suburban’s early childhood education-oriented work through its Early Childhood Program and its family and adult program offerings.
North Suburban offers infant, toddler, preschool and transitional kindergarten programs.
The demand for mental health services during the pandemic prompted the Essex County Community Foundation over the summer to provide $415,000 directed toward nonprofits focused on mental health and substance use disorders.
“Anxiety and fear are also significant for those on the front lines, many of whom are concerned about being exposed or bringing the virus home to their families,” said ECCF President and CEO Beth Francis. “This sustained worry – compounded by the stress associated with social isolation – means many residents are constantly on edge.”
The increased demand for mental health services is tapping into a healthcare system already strapped for resources. Community health care centers and other nonprofit organizations offering these services – which struggled pre-COVID – are reporting a grave mental health workforce shortage, especially of bi- and multilingual mental health professionals.
