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MAY 6, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXI • NO 15
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MHALC Offers Mental Health Support By Dayna M. Reidenouer
A lot has been said lately about the importance of physical health as it pertains to the novel coronavirus. However, as people stay confined to their homes or report to jobs where they might be putting themselves at risk of illness, mental health must not be forgotten. “It is just as important to take protective action and precautions for your mental health as you would for your physical health. One cannot exist without the other,” advised Kim McDevitt, executive director of Mental Health America of Lancaster County (MHALC). “COVID-19 has changed the way we think about things. Where we had safety, we have insecurities. We are also conflicted with feeling anxious but also
grateful for some of the gifts that we have received as a result of this crisis. The forced series of events and feelings associated with them can throw our equilibrium off.” MHALC’s mission is to promote optimal mental health through advocacy, education, and support, so the organization has stepped up its efforts to help individuals cope with these trying times. “The uncertainty is what’s unsettling,” McDevitt said. “It’s important to remember, in spite of this all, you still have control over your day-to-day.” Both solitude and unrelenting closeness can be challenges. For people who seek connection, McDevitt recommended video chats with friends and family or calling someone they might not have talked to in a while. She noted that it is valuable to ask three simple questions
of someone who might be struggling with loneliness: Do you feel left out? Do you lack companionship? Do you feel isolated? The answers to these questions can help lonely people acknowledge their isolation and begin to open contact with others in a supportive social network. “Research shows that just reaching out and being there for someone can truly save a life,” said MHALC child/family advocate Gretchen Gaudioso. Hugs and even handshakes have been sacrificed for social distancing, and the lack of physical contact can have a real impact. McDevitt recommended snuggling with pets or meditating to achieve calmness when needing touch. Conversely, designating a getaway spot in a house or apartment and then See MHALC pg 4
Sharing Her Gifts Through SWAN And Beyond By Ann Mead Ash
This year’s Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development ambassadors are (top, from left) Cooper Brubaker, Jalaya Cooper, David Albino, (bottom) Elle Haines, and Gabriel Morales. with skeletal dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism. He receives occupational therapy, working on See Schreiber pg 2
Bryanna Still has always loved music. “I began my interest in music at a really young age,” said Bryanna. “I grew up listening to soulful old rhythm and blues and a lot of ’70s and ’80s music. Having that start really inspired me to be passionate about music.” In the fall, the Dayspring Christian Academy senior will head to Edinboro University in northern Pennsylvania to begin a double major in art and music therapy, an ambitious eight-year program that will earn her a doctorate in those subject areas. Bryanna’s journey to this point has not been likely, but her talents, love of art and music, and determination to succeed have helped her discover her potential and have influenced others, such as Diana Vuolo, founder/executive director of SWAN (Scaling Walls A Note at a Time), to take notice. SWAN is an after-school music program for School District of Lancaster (SDoL) students ages 6 to 18. Readers who would like to learn more about SWAN may visit www.swan4kids.org. While it was not always easy for Bryanna to See SWAN pg 2
Bryanna Still of Lancaster, a senior at Dayspring Christian Academy, plans to use her musical and artistic talents to help others as she matriculates at Edinboro University in the fall with the goal of becoming an art and music therapist.
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Schreiber Center Names Ambassadors Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development has announced the children who will serve as its ambassadors this year. The stories among the ambassadors are all different, and their challenges are unique, but their families have one thing in common: They sought and received assistance from Schreiber, 625 Community Way, Lancaster. David Albino, who turned 5 in January, was born with cerebral palsy. He started services with Schreiber when he was an infant and now receives occupational, physical and speech-language therapies and attends Schreiber’s S.T.A.R.S. preschool. As a result of his work at Schreiber, David has learned to sit up, stand, speak and walk and continues to improve his ability to move independently with his walker and to speak more clearly and with more words to better communicate. He and his parents live in Lititz. Cooper Brubaker, who is 6 years old, was born
Mental Health America of Lancaster County leaders, including (from left) president Tracey Lavallias, executive director Kim McDevitt, and vice president Julie Weaver, have worked together to ensure their organization is prepared to offer increased mental health support.