Putnam County Coronavirus Update: Stress Workshops

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — There were 17 patients with COVID-19 at Putnam County Hospital Center on Wednesday, down from 27 hospitalized there on Monday.

The number of cases has been rising steadily this week, and the county is now up to 900 cases from 831 confirmed as of Monday. Another 19 people were released from isolation Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Putnam’s Mental Health Association launched a new online workshop group known as Tools2Thrive, building on the national theme for Mental Health Month in May.

"Tools2Thrive is for anyone seeking to reduce their own stress while effectively navigating the more challenging relationships in their lives,” said Megan Castellano, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Putnam. “And those relationships may be with family members, partners, friends, co-workers or others."

"The unfortunate truth for 2020 is that Mental Health Month will become Mental Health Year," county officials said.

"By practicing social and physical distancing, and by wearing masks in public, we have actually flattened the curve. As we begin to move forward, we must continue these practices, and focus on building resilience and promoting mental health for all," said County Executive MaryEllen Odell. "A new economic reality is upon us. There is little doubt it will bring challenges, but by working together we can prevail."

The workshops are weekly sessions, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. In addition, on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6:30 - 8 p.m., two more tailored programs will focus specifically on family issues.

Joining Putnam’s Tools2Thrive workshops can be done from a computer, tablet or smartphone through the GoToMeetings platform. Instructions and the weekly link are posted on the MHA website at www.mhaputnam.org.

Mental Health America encourages everyone to go online in May and help meet the goal of one million Americans taking their online mental health screening.

The anonymous online screenings for depression and anxiety, both in English and Spanish, can be found here, along with other mental health screenings and surveys.