Mental Health

ReNew provides a variety of mental health resources through our social work staff and through partnerships with the Oaks Integrated Care - COPE Center and Newark Community Solutions.

How do I obtain mental health services?

The process of obtaining mental health support begins with our mental health assessment, which all participants complete during their first weeks in the program.

What is a mental health assessment?

It’s an assessment that will ask you questions about your childhood, your current living situation, any past hospitalizations, your medical history etc. It is essentially a conversation you will have that will allow the team to better understand you as an entire person.

Who conducts the mental health assessment?

Carol Parker, a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed mental health professional at the Oaks Integrated Care - COPE Center.

How do I set an appointment?

Typically, once you enter ReNew, one of the team members will notify Carol Parker or a mental health professional at the Oaks Integrated Care - COPE Center. Carol Parker or a licensed mental health professional will reach out to you (via phone call) to set an appointment date and time.

How long will the mental health assessment take?

The assessment can take up to about 3 hours. Yes, 3 hours. So, it’s important that you set up an appointment that doesn’t interfere with work or with any other obligations you may have.

Where will the assessment take place?

The location may vary depending on who will be conducting the mental health assessment.

I really don’t want to have a mental health assessment. Do I have to get one done?

Yes. You have to have a mental health assessment. All participants of ReNew must have a mental health assessment to be in the program. If you talk to other participants, they will most likely tell you that the process was rewarding.

I really enjoyed talking to a licensed mental health professional. I would like to consistently do something like this in the future. How can I?

Carol Parker and other mental health professionals happily work with ReNew participants. Some participants of ReNew meet on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

“ReNew gave me the opportunity to open up and learn how to understand myself and my triggers. Health is health… physical or mental.”

- ReNew Graduate

Mental Health Support

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment.

Mindfulness Practice Tips:

  • Intention - Set time and moments aside to be mindful. Mindfulness practices can be done anywhere and anytime of each and every day; it may just take some time and practice.

  • Limitation - Setting just 5-10 minutes aside each day for yourself can enhance your well being. Notice all thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

  • Breathing - Follow the sensations as you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Purposeful breathing slows down your heart rate and calms your mind and body.

  • Consciousness - Your attention will leave your breath and wander. When you notice your mind wandering, pull your attention back to your breath. You are now training your brain to return to the present state.

  • Wander & Wonder - Be kind to your mind. Your mind will get lost and that is okay. Just come back to center yourself with your breath and continue your mindful state.

Grief & Loss

Grief is a normal response to loss during or after a disaster or other traumatic event. Grief can happen in response to loss of life, as well as to drastic changes to daily routines and ways of life that usually bring us comfort and a feeling of stability.

A popularly known model developed by psychiatrist, Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D., describes a series of emotions experienced by people who are grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

  • Denial - shock, numbness, confusion, distancing, shutting down.

  • Anger - loss of control, frustration, impatience, resentment, embarrassment, rage.

  • Bargaining - guilt, shame, blame, fear, anxiety, insecurity.

  • Depression - sadness, despair, helplessness, hopelessness, disappointment, overwhelmed.

  • Acceptance - self-compassion, content, courageous, validation, pride, wisdom.

The stages are non-linear. People can experience these aspects of grief at different times and they do not happen in one particular order. You may not experience all of the stages, and you might find feelings are quite different with different bereavements.

Self-care

Self-care has been defined as the process of establishing behaviors to ensure holistic well-being of oneself, to promote health, and to actively manage illness when it occurs.

Areas of Self-Care & How to Practice Them:

  • Physical - movement, sleep, intimacy

  • Psychological - mindfulness, creativity, critical thinking

  • Emotional - expressing emotions, managing stress, compassion and empathy

  • Social - support network, healthy relationships, belonging and connection

  • Financial - responsibility, a conscious relationship with money, saving and planning

  • Spiritual - beliefs and values, guidance, goals and practices

  • Environmental - clutter free spaces, organized, nature vs. technology

  • Professional - set boundaries, express strengths and expertise, find purpose

Self-care looks different for everyone. One person may use it to cope with the loss of a loved one, while others may do it to boost happiness levels. Even your own definition of self-care may change over time — it all depends on checking in with yourself and seeing what your body is asking for.

Healing

Healing is the process of making or becoming sound and healthy.

Trauma results from exposure to an incident or series of events that are emotionally disturbing or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being. Trauma has no boundaries regarding age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Our past experiences can affect our current mindset and our choices in how we interpret our lives.

If pain or trauma has been experienced in our past, it can impact how we view our current circumstances or even prevent us from living in the present.

Resilience is the process and outcome of adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences; adversity, trauma, pain, etc., through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.

Building resilience takes time, strength, and support from people around you; you'll likely experience setbacks along the way but you are resilient.

References

Albarracín D, Wyer RS Jr. The cognitive impact of past behavior: influences on beliefs, attitudes, and future behavioral decisions. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000 Jul;79(1):5-22. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.79.1.5. PMID: 10909874; PMCID: PMC4807731.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, September 6). Grief and loss. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/grief-loss/index.html

Lawler, M., Upham, B., Colino, S., Walsh, K., Lawler, M., Byrne, C., Jesner, L., Carstensen, M., & Zapata, K. (n.d.). What is self-care and why is it critical for your health? EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/self-care/#:~:text=Self%2Dcare%20looks%20different%20for,your%20body%20is%20asking%20for.

Ma X, Yue ZQ, Gong ZQ, Zhang H, Duan NY, Shi YT, Wei GX, Li YF. The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Front Psychol. 2017 Jun 6;8:874. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874. PMID: 28626434; PMCID: PMC5455070.

Tanasugarn, D. A. (2020, April 6). Healing from the past and living in your present. Psych Central. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/healing-from-the-past-and-living-in-your-present#1

Tyrrell P, Harberger S, Schoo C, et al. Kubler-Ross Stages of Dying and Subsequent Models of Grief. [Updated 2022 Nov 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507885/

5 pillars of resilience. Feeling Good MN. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.feelinggoodmn.org/what-we-do/bounce-back-project-/5-pillars-of-resilience/