Although anxiety is common among all age groups and genders, teenage girls struggle with anxiety more than any other group. The National Institute of Mental Health (2020 study) found 38% of adolescent girls are managing anxiety disorders. In addition, the Surgeon General reported that research in early 2021 revealed that emergency department visits in the United States for suspected suicide attempts were 51% higher for adolescent girls and 4% higher for adolescent boys compared to the same period in early 2019.

Professionals connect these statistics to children watching the stressors their parents may be experiencing. Teenage girls have the additional stress of more prevalent negative experiences online, such as being bullied, finding harmful information, and negatively comparing themselves to others. Through a grant from the Women & Girls Fund, For All Seasons hopes to convene multiple generations of women in a campaign, “Anxiety – Let’s Talk About It,” to provide education about this important topic.

On February 10 at 7 p.m., the agency will host a FREE lecture through FaceBook live stream and limited in-person seating at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD about the anxiety challenge teen girls face. For All Seasons’ CEO, Beth Anne Langrell, and Chief Clinical Officer, Lesa Lee, will present the ways we can support adolescent girls on their journey to wellness. With knowledge and strategies, young women can gain the tools they need not just to survive, but to thrive.

For All Seasons also has released tools for the following key messages, including downloadable materials from the Center for Learning and video content. The campaign’s five key messages can help teenage girls manage their anxiety on their journey to feeling stronger and better than ever.

• When Anxiety appears – ask yourself WHY? Recognizing when anxiety appears and understanding why it happens can help you stay in control of overwhelming feelings.
• I am not my anxiety. It’s important to recognize your anxiety as the feelings you experience, not who you are.
• Mindfulness helps to reduce anxiety. Pause and take a few slow breaths. Practice being present and grounded in the moment.
• Social Media can stir up anxiety. Consider how social media makes you feel. Ask yourself – How does this impact my life?
• Self-care is not selfish. Find time for the activities that make you calm and happy.

According to the Surgeon General, signs of distress in children can show up in many ways, such as irritability, anger, withdrawal, and other changes in their thoughts, appearance, performance at school, sleeping or eating patterns, or other behaviors.

In the American Psychological Association’s bi-weekly podcast, “Speaking of Psychology,” Dr. Lisa Damour, a clinical psychologist, executive director of Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls, and author of “Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls,” recently shared that the causes of the stress and anxiety are not totally the same for boys and girls. Damour said, “There’s certainly a great degree of overlap, but there are also some very unique stressors to being a boy in our culture and being a girl in our culture . . . the other thing we know is that when girls are in distress, they tend to internalize. When boys are in distress, they tend to externalize.” To read the full article, visit https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/anxiety-teen-girls.

“We are encouraging parents if they notice consistent or ongoing changes in their child, to let them know they are there to support them. This includes engaging professionals, such as For All Seasons, or finding other available resources to help them. Leaving anxiety untreated could lead to worsening symptoms,” comments Lesa Lee, Chief Clinical Officer at For All Seasons.

This presentation is presented to the community free of charge through a grant from the Women & Girls Fund. To register for For All Seasons’ Anxiety – Let’s talk About It lecture on February 10, 2022, visit https://anxietyletstalk.eventbrite.com. As a part of this campaign, For All Seasons has created a website with free resources and downloadable tools to help young women gain the strategies they need. Community members can access these materials at www.anxiety-letstalkaboutit.org. Register at https://anxietyletstalk.eventbrite.com.

Please note – the Avalon Foundation requires each ticket holder to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (your completed COVID-19 vaccination card, copy of your card, or official digital card), OR a negative COVID PCR test within 72 hours of this performance, and a corresponding photo ID, along with a valid ticket, in order to gain access to the theatre.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For further information, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

The stress and anxiety of the holidays can be overwhelming. For All Seasons is asking everyone to be aware during this holiday season of those who may be struggling by taking an extra moment to check in on someone, send a card, drop off a meal, just simply let someone know you’re thinking of them.

“We have all come through a particularly hard year, and just acknowledging that is important. The stress and anxiety of the holidays can be overwhelming for some. It is also important this time of the year to focus on and appreciate the things that matter in our lives,” comments Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons.

“This fall, several community members stepped up and told their personal stories about how suicide has affected them. I want to say a very special thank you to Justin Mulcahy for sharing his story of how his family worked through losing his brother. This interview is a reminder that everyone can play in role in suicide prevention, and that suicide and/or mental health truly does affect us all.”

Mulcahy’s interview shares his reflections on observations about his brother, the grieving process of losing his brother, and how he came to the decision to tell his story in hopes it could help others with mental health issues find the help they need.

“August 21, 2000, is a day that I’ll always remember and certainly one my family will always remember. It’s a day that sort of changed our lives forever. That’s the day I got a phone call from my dad and found out that we lost my brother – to suicide. It’s one of those moments you’ll always know where you were. You kind of see certain things in your head, and it’ll never really go away,” comments Mulcahy.

“I’m convinced that my brother had depression. It was just never diagnosed. And, you know, we didn’t see it coming because he sort of got to a place where everything was okay in his life. And then research will show you that some people do that [when] they get to a really good place, and then they’re ready to leave.”

“I look at people differently. I try to empathize. Do I come up short sometimes? Yeah, but I think if we all sort of said, ‘Hey, I wonder what that person’s going through? Why are they acting that way? Do they need a resource and talk to somebody?’” he adds.

“So it’s knowing that you can help somebody just by reaching out. You could be a village to somebody who’s struggling and letting people know that they’re not going through it alone. And also, the most important part is the resources out there.”

To watch the entire interview with Justin Mulcahy, click here https://vimeo.com/637935583.

For All Seasons has welcomed six new members to its Board of Directors – Kamari A. Collins of Easton; Aimee Dietsch, DHSc, of Easton; Gary Goldstein, MD, of St. Michaels; Leonard Wolf, CPA, RIA, of Easton; Michael T. Flaherty, Ph.D., of Tilghman; and Elizabeth Spurry, CFP, CTFA, of Trappe.

“These new board members bring a depth of experience in their diverse fields of business and their years of community service. We are thrilled to have them serve on our Board and support our organization through an important growth period in our history,” comments Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons.

Collins is the Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management at Chesapeake College. He has more than 20 years of experience in college and community-based settings. He previously was Vice President of Student Affairs at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Director of Youth & Education Programs at the Urban League of Springfield, Inc. in Springfield. He is pursuing a Doctor of Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration through Northeastern University in Boston. He completed a Master of Science degree in Human Services with a concentration in Organizational Management and Leadership and a Bachelor of Science degree in Movement and Sports Studies, both from Springfield College. His civic involvement includes serving as a trustee with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and as a board member for Children’s Study Home, Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS), and the Urban League of Springfield, Inc.

Dietsch is a health policy analyst with the Maryland Department of Health and also an adjunct professor at Liberty University. She is currently finishing a Dual Doctor of Health Science/Certificate in Health Professions Education at the University of Indianapolis, completing a dissertation on mothers experiencing post-partum depression and their healthcare decision-making during their child’s first year of life. Aimee spent a semester with For All Seasons as an administrative intern supporting the development of educational programs in the agency’s Center for Learning. She holds a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University in Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology from Park University in Charleston, South Carolina. She also holds a certificate in Effective Supervisory Management from the University of North Carolina School of Government. Her volunteer work has included the New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Vintage Values.

 

 

Dr. Goldstein is Professor Emeritus of Neurology and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the past President and CEO of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, an academic partner of Johns Hopkins University. Over his 30-year tenure, Dr. Goldstein transformed the Kennedy Krieger Institute into one of the world’s most recognized centers for children and young adults with developmental disabilities. His innovative programs included a comprehensive research and treatment center for autism; a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and research facility for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries; and a research center for advanced MRI brain imaging. The Institute’s child behavior psychology program grew to be one of the largest in the nation. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago and completed his residencies in pediatrics (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis), neurology (Stanford, Palo Alto), and child neurology (Johns Hopkins). He was a founding board member and the first Chief Science Officer of AutismSpeaks, a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and was recognized by The Daily Record as one of 2018’s Influential Marylanders.

 

Wolf is a certified public accountant and registered investment advisor currently serving as the Principal and Managing Director of the tax practice, The Wolf Group, P.C., and founding principal of Wolf Group Capital Advisors, which provides high-quality financial planning and portfolio development/management services. In his early years at The Wolf Group, he focused the practice on serving the needs of the international community, including organizations such as The World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization of American States, United Nations, NATO, and others. Wolf has chaired international tax committees and held various leadership positions in global professional organizations. He completed a Bachelor of Science in accounting from The Pennsylvania State University. He is a board member and active participant in several nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving the community, with an emphasis on meeting the mental health needs of underserved populations and has founded or co-founded several nonprofit entities, serving homeless families, those with mental health challenges, and others.

 

 

Dr. Flaherty, a clinical psychologist with more than 38 years of practice, founded the Institute for Research, Education and Training in the Addictions (IRETA) In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A pioneering leader in building a science of recovery, over the past 10 years he has helped design improved community models of care across the country. He currently serves as Board President of the Annapolis Coalition for Behavioral Workforce Development and as subject matter expert to SAMHSA’s Military, Veterans and Families Substance Use Technical Assistance Center. In 2017 Dr. Flaherty collaborated with a local church and provider to organize the “Healthy Tilghman Project,” a collaboration of The Tilghman United Methodist Church and For All Seasons Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center to provide mental health, substance use, and health services to those living in the Mid-Shore and Bay Hundred community. He is a retired Captain (Surface Warfare) in the U.S. Naval Reserve with 27 years of service on active and reserve duty. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Duquesne University.

 

Spurry of Trappe, CFP®, CTFA is the founder and CEO of Tred Avon Family Wealth, a boutique wealth management, financial planning, and family office business in Easton.  She has worked in Financial Service for 25 years. Beth is a native of the Eastern Shore, with family in Talbot, Wicomico, and Somerset counties.  She graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and from Washington College with a Master of Arts degree in English.  Beth serves on the Board of the Academy Art Museum, the finance committee of For All Seasons, and the Board of the Women and Girls Fund.  Previously, she served on the Boards of the Harbor Club of the Eastern Shore, Easton Rotary, Sultana Foundation, Chesapeake Chamber Music, Evergreen Cove, For All Seasons, and the Mercersburg Academy Alumni Council, and participated in Shore Leadership.

For All Seasons provides the highest level of mental health and victim services to children, adults and families across the Mid-Shore. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy and 24-hour crisis hotlines. For further information, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons goal with its No Matter What… You Matter suicide prevention and awareness campaign is to prevent suicide on Maryland’s Eastern Shore through education and increased access to crisis resources. Research shows that suicide is a leading cause of death on the Eastern Shore and in the United States, but we can all play a role in suicide prevention. For All Seasons’ campaign included ASK. LISTEN. SHARE. messaging to encourage the community to play their part in suicide prevention by asking those around them if they are OK, listening without judgment, and sharing mental health resources.

“The response to this year’s campaign showed us that there is more need than ever for mental health services on the Mid-Shore. The number of visitors to our website during the campaign was significant, and we had more new sponsors of our event this year. Several community members stepped forward to have us tell their stories around how suicide has affected them,” comments Beth Anne Langrell, CEO, For All Seasons.

This year’s Presenting Sponsor of the No Matter What… You Matter campaign was Raymond E. Sutch III of Morgan Stanley.  Hope Sponsors were Chuck Mangold, Jr., Realtor and Benson & Mangold; Dwelling & Design; Willow Construction; and an anonymous donor. Help Sponsors were Allison and Myron Szcuzkowski, Trade Whims, and Visiting Angels – Mid Eastern Shore. Comfort Sponsors were Laser Letters, Bill and Mia Cranford, Channel Marker, Kevertin Pet Resort, Avalon Foundation, Avon Dixon, Bay Star Consignments, Fitness Rx, Hair O’ The Dog, La De Da, Legal Assets Craft Food and Spirits, Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Out of the Fire, Phyllis Rambo, Scottish Highland Creamery, Scossa Restaurant and Lounge, Shore Sports | Overtime Live, Snifters Craft Beer and Wine Bistro, Talbot Hospice, Talbot Interfaith Shelter, Vintage Books & Fine Art, and YMCA of the Chesapeake.

“As I’ve gotten older, there are so many people I know who have lost somebody – people I would never have expected to have lost somebody in their family or friends. I have supported For All Seasons for years because of the positive impact the organization has on our community’s mental health needs,” comments Alice Ryan, owner of Trade Whims and a longtime For All Seasons’ donor.

This year’s campaign built on the success and impact of previous years. Local shops and restaurants distributed suicide prevention materials to their patrons, including brochures about For All Seasons services and crisis hotline stickers on to-go meal boxes. For All Seasons also premiered the No Matter What… You Matter live streaming event. This virtual event inspired community connection while providing education and awareness on suicide prevention, including the music video, “You Will Be Found,” produced by Ray Remesch, featuring cast members from Heart & Music; a conversation with Beth Anne Langrell and Lesa Lee, Chief Clinical Officer about prevention, and the ways we can be there one another; and an interview with Justin Mulcahey, a remarkable community member whose life changed forever when his family lost his brother to suicide.

Other aspects of the campaign included banners on light posts throughout town, the “Dear Evan Hansen” movie screening and discussions with local high students through Easton Premier Cinemas. Following the free, private viewing of the film, Beth Anne Langrell and Lesa Lee lead the participating students in a discussion on the movie’s themes and share resources for mental health support for themselves or others. For All Seasons’ website also increased accessibility to suicide prevention resources, making tools and awareness as easy to access as possible.

As in years past, For All Seasons presented to County Councils in Mid-Shore Counties about the prevalence of suicide and the ongoing need to focus on suicide prevention. These counties proclaimed October as No Matter What… You Matter Suicide Prevention Month and encouraged all residents to play their role in preventing suicide by participating in the ASK. LISTEN. SHARE. Finally, For All Seasons staff participated in local Suicide Prevention Walks.

To watch the For All Seasons events, visit https://www.nomatterwhatyoumatter.org/preventing-suicide-in-our-community/.