Beginning immediately, JFCS of the Suncoast (JFCS) will provide free mental health counseling to any staff of Sarasota County and Manatee County hospitals. The surge in COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths has placed an enormous burden on hospital personnel. Counseling is available to the staff at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Venice Regional Bayfront Health, Englewood Community Hospital, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Blake Medical Center and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
“We need to support healthcare workers who are risking their lives and working above and beyond to help patients survive this medical crisis,” said Arthur Lerman, JFCS President/CEO. “This is a particularly difficult time for staff, even more so than earlier in the pandemic when hospitalizations rates were high. What makes today’s circumstances more challenging, mentally and emotionally, is that this situation could have been avoided if more people had been vaccinated. As it has done for the past 35 years, JFCS is here to support our community during times of need.”
“The emotional stress hospital staff is experiencing is palpable,” said Dr. Stacy Lang, JFCS’ Chief of Behavioral Health Services. “At JFCS we have an outstanding clinical staff with significant trauma related experience who want to do all they can to address this dramatic need within our community. We know that hospitals are doing all they can to support their staff. We simply want to be an additional resource to help staff get through extremely difficult time.”
Hospital staff seeking free mental health counseling support may contact the JFCS Intake Department directly at 941-366-2224, ext. 116, to schedule priority appointments with clinicians. JFCS clinicians are experienced in trauma-based counseling, including cognitive, behavioral and psychodynamic approaches to struggles with depression, anxiety, anger management, bereavement, post-traumatic stress order and stress reduction. Hospital staff may schedule confidential sessions that can be conducted in-person or via Telehealth.
About JFCS of the Suncoast
Celebrating its 35th year as one of the Florida Suncoast’s leading mental health and human services agencies, JFCS offers programs that support youth, families, seniors and veterans. Inspired by the Jewish tradition of helping all people, services are delivered regardless of religious preference and with the goal of empowering individuals and families to self-sufficiency and stability. JFCS of the Suncoast believes all people are to be treated with dignity and respect and have equal opportunity to physical well-being, self-expression and joy. For more information, visit https://JFCS-Cares.org/ or call (941) 366-2224.