The stress of financial instability can take a toll on a person’s mental health, leading to anxiety, depression and other illnesses. Knowing this, NFCC has been piloting programs with Summit Counseling Center to provide mental health services to families in need.
Since April, Walter Da Silva, a bilingual counselor with Summit Counseling Center, has been providing counseling sessions on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the Barbara Duffy Center. The program has been so successful that Summit added Wednesday morning sessions on an appointment-only basis.
Walter sees adults, children and families. He works with people dealing with the stress of financial uncertainty, suffering from depression and anxiety, struggling with addiction, or experiencing other mental health issues. Anyone receiving services from NFCC can participate in up to 12 weekly sessions, completely free of charge.
“If something’s going on, your body will let you know and you go to the doctor. With mental health, it’s the same. The more we take care of ourselves, the healthier we are,” Walter said.
Walter is not just speaking metaphorically. According to the Mayo Clinic, prolonged stress contributes to conditions like muscle tension and pain, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep disorders, weight gain, and even heart attack or stroke. For families already burdened with financial difficulties, often uninsured, the cascading effect of stress-related medical issues can be devastating.
The sessions are not a deep dive into the past. Walter provides tools and coping skills to manage stress in real-time. He works with participants to practice staying present and mindful and avoid feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
“We [counselors] are basically like a GPS, helping you navigate your mental map,” he said, “Our biggest goal is to help find balance. Once you have balance inside, it will be a lot easier to remain calm and see progress, gain a new perspective.”
Armed with tools to manage stress, participants are more receptive to solutions and can better confront their current situation and work with a case manager or coach to construct a plan to move forward.
“Mental health services are such an amazing gift for those we serve,” said Carol Swan, Director of Case Management, Education, and Client Services, “When you are in crisis mode, everything is moment to moment. Your fight-or-flight response is in overdrive. Taking a moment to center yourself and be calm, makes a huge difference in your ability to think logically and have hope for the future.”
The sessions are part of a program at Summit Counseling Center funded by the North Point Community Church Be Rich campaign.
