For All Seasons is here for all the mental health changes we go through in our lives – across the age span – for all kinds of reasons. According to Mental Health America’s recent report, “2021 -The State of Mental Health in America,” the prevalence of mental illness among adults has been increasing, and there is still an unmet need for mental health treatment among youth and adults in our country.  You don’t need to be in crisis in order to need support. A number of indicators support this growing problem in the U.S.:

• The number of people screening with moderate to severe symptoms of depression and anxiety has continued to increase throughout 2020 and remains higher than rates before 2020.
• More people are reporting frequent thoughts of suicide and self-harm than have ever been recorded in the MHA Screening program since its launch in 2014.
• While rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation are increasing for people of all races and ethnicities, Black or African American screeners have had the highest average percent change over time for anxiety and depression, while Native American or American Indian screeners have had the highest average percent change over time for suicidal ideation.

Mental health is one of our greatest assets. It helps us focus at work, overcome obstacles, get along with the people around us—and get well and stay well. Stress can lead to serious mental health problems, like depression and anxiety disorders, but there are proven tools that can help us feel stronger and more hopeful:

– Connect with others

– Stay physically active

– Help others

– Get enough sleep

– Be kind and compassionate to yourself

– Set boundaries

– Eat well

– Get professional help if you need it.

Unlike other physical and mental disabilities, depression and anxiety and other challenges may not always be readily visible with friends and family. Because we don’t know who might be suffering from a mental health issue, it is more important than ever to check in on one another regularly to ask the question: “How are you doing?” Have you checked in on people in your life this month?

To help boost the community’s mental health in May, For All Seasons sponsored a ” Spread Joy, Confetti Challenge.” Did you know that single acts of silliness and fun can boost your mental health? This month, a number of individuals, organizations, and businesses joined in the agency’s challenge to spread happiness and joy in the community. Check out For All Seasons Facebook and Instagram pages @forallseasonsinc to learn more. For information visit forallseasonsinc.org or call 410-822-1018.

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.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, along with key community partners, The Avalon Foundation, For All Seasons, Inclusive Easton, and the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services, announce their collaborative project, “September 11: Remembering Those Lost.” The project will be one of many across the country that will pay tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, as well as honor the first responders and the many others who have risen to service in crises.  For All Seasons is coordinating the Day of Remembrance Art Contest, soliciting artists of all ages to submit a work of art with the theme of helping others in an emergency or crisis like 9/11 or to honor those lost in 9/11. The theme will focus on helping people that may be vulnerable in a crisis, such as people with disabilities, the elderly, and children.

Photo: Pictured left to right are Cristy Morrell, Executive Director of Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers, a member of Inclusive Easton; Deena Kilmon, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region; Suzy Moore, Avalon Foundation; Denae Spiering, For All Seasons; Beth Anne Langrell, For All Seasons; and Geneva Schaffle, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services. 

The art contest will kick off at the 21st Annual Multicultural Vaccination & Wellness Day on Saturday, May 1, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Idlewild Park in Easton. Children under 18 and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be offered a free art supply kit at the event to complete either on-site or take home. Art kits will also be provided at Easton’s CommUNITY Day on May 15, at Denton’s Pride Fest on June 12, and during Plein Air Easton on July 11 through 18.

Artists of all ages can participate in the art contest by submitting a picture of their original artwork (original artwork will remain with the artist). Projects can include such mediums as sculpture, collage, drawing, painting, watercolor, mixed media, or digital art. The themes for the contest are “Remembering Those Lost” and “You are the Help Until Help Arrives.” Any artist or community member may submit an entry at no cost. Photographs of the winners’ art in each age group, novice and professional, along with their names, will be displayed in downtown Easton. The winning entries will also be displayed on banners throughout the area in late fall.

“This is an amazing opportunity to honor the work of our dedicated service providers and organizations that support the growth and wellness of our most vulnerable community members,” comments Denae Spiering, Outreach Coordinator at For All Seasons.

Throughout the summer and fall, activities are being planned to engage the community to be aware of vulnerable people in crises, how to help them, and how to heal together from traumas that affect the community, such as the tragic loss of life on September 11. Community members will also be invited to participate in training sessions that will help prepare them to be of assistance to people with disabilities and injuries in the waiting period between the moment of crisis and the first responder’s arrival. The events will culminate in a public Day of Remembrance ceremony, honoring the lives of those lost on 9/11. Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons, will be the featured speaker at the ceremony.

“The Arc Central Chesapeake Region is thrilled to bring awareness to how to assist people with disabilities during an emergency and to honor those with disabilities who passed away on 9/11. Through this community art contest and trainings, we are raising awareness so people can better understand their role in helping others until help arrives,” adds Deena Kilmon, Director of Engagement, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region.

To participate in the Day of Remembrance Art Contest, take a clear, quality, full-size picture of the artwork and email the photo to [email protected] before July 18, 2021. The photo should be sent as its actual size – a minimum of 873 KB or 2.0 MB file is preferred. Anyone having trouble taking or uploading his or her picture can reach out to Denae Spiering at 410-725-6479.  Art submitted after July 18, 2021 will not be considered. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service.

For more information, or to register your group to participate in the art contest or crisis training activities, please contact the project coordinator, Deena Kilmon, Director of Engagement, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region at 410-353-1137 or email [email protected].

“Remembering Those Lost” is funded through The Arc of The United States through a sub-grant from Ameri-Corps, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service and leads the nation’s volunteer efforts.

For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center is continually looking for ways to raise awareness about sexual assault. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSCRC), sexual harassment, assault, and abuse can happen anywhere, including online spaces. During Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, NSCRC is educating the public about safer ways to be online today. Some of the organization’s tips relate to how we connect online, how we practice digital consent and intervening when we see harmful content or behaviors online to ensure that online spaces — whether they be workspaces, classrooms, social media platforms, or otherwise — are respectful and safe.

During the pandemic, there has been an increased risk for keeping children safe online and preventing online trauma as they participate in virtual school and communicate with friends digitally through online apps instead of in person. While there may be uncertainty about how much we will be online in the future, one thing we know is that by teaching our children to interact with each other more respectfully and safely, we can help prevent sexual assault and abuse online.

Bill Jones, Dorchester County State’s Attorney, recently spoke with For All Seasons staff about preventing sexual abuse among children who experience greater exposure to risks online today. Jones and his Victim Witness Coordinator, Patti Dickerson McMahon, work with For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center staff in supporting sexual assault survivors who are working within the judicial system in Dorchester County.

“The Internet has created the opportunity for so many things, and so many of those things are good, and so many of those things are bad. And in virtually every type of crime, you can imagine there is some Internet involvement,” comments Jones.

Jones points to how easy it is now to transmit data on the Internet – whether it’s photographs, identification information, or one’s location. There are new applications every day that provide ways to share information and meet people like never before.

“Let’s understand that there is a group of people out there using social media for exactly what our greatest fear is. They are looking for kids. They are meeting kids, they are grooming kids, and they are trying to create situations where they can have sexual relationships with these underage kids. And sometimes these kids don’t survive the encounter,” he adds.

Because Jones points out that children can access the Internet from so many devices now – laptops for schoolwork, iPads for games, their phones, and even now Smart TVs, that parents have to be vigilant in monitoring online activity. Another factor during the pandemic is that children, in general, have more time on their hands and perhaps less supervision than before when they were physically in school and participating in extracurricular activities. Parents need to be aware that kids can have multiple social media accounts and they may be showing the parent one account while hiding activity on another.

“I think that if parents would just talk to their kids about the two sides – two types of problems that really plague us the most, which is the transmission of data, photographs, videos, things like that and then the meeting of people. Because the meeting of people, that’s not a temporary thing, that is a means to something else, that is a means to an actual physical meeting up . . . so it’s something that starts off small, and then it snowballs into a situation that’s dangerous for everybody,” he adds.

Jones suggests posing the question to young people, “Why would you want the whole world to know where you are all the time when it includes people who you don’t know at all?” He adds that when you do this, you are not only placing yourself in jeopardy, but your friends, your family members, and everything else. Jones continues to explain that adults and parents need to consider the same question. Over-sharing and posting lots of information about your life and the lives of your children, may not always be safe. He states, “So really what it comes down to is just because you can share all this information doesn’t mean you should.”

The NSVRC suggests the following tips we can share with our children to protect them against online sexual harassment and abuse:

Practice Consent and Show Respect for Boundaries:

• It’s never okay to try to unlock someone else’s phone without permission or look through their inbox or texts
• Check if it’s okay before sharing information outside of your one-on-one chat
• Agreeing on a platform and giving options when communicating like letting everyone know it’s okay to leave their webcam off during a video call

Share the Red Flags of Online Grooming:

• Asking to keep the relationship secret
• Making suggestive or sexual comments
• Asking the child about their sexual background (have they been kissed, are they a virgin, etc.)
• Sending links to suggestive images, memes, or porn
• Asking the child to only contact them on certain apps

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) suggests that because children are now spending more and more time online, on social media, the Internet, and online games, parents need to be aware of the risk of online predators even more. They suggest parents pay attention to what online platforms their children are using and stay alert to any signs of distress linked with their children’s online activity.

For further information about keeping children safe from sexual harassment, assault, and abuse online, visit https://www.nsvrc.org/resource-topics/sexual-assault-awareness-month or https://mcasa.org/prevention/online-safety. For sexual assault support services and information visit: https://forallseasonsinc.org/rape-crisis-center/ or call 410-822-1018.

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 All Seasons had to pivot this spring to re-invent its annual Heart & Music fundraising event as a virtual campaign. Over the past 11 years, Heart & Music has raised around $80,000 annually for For All Seasons mental health and victim services on the Mid-Shore. This year, instead of its traditional in-person event, the organization hosted a ten-day virtual “Give With Your Heart” campaign in March and exceeded its $100,00 campaign goal, raising $103,993.

“The For All Seasons Team is grateful for the outpouring of support we received during our ten-day Give With Your Heart Campaign. This important annual fundraiser is a critical piece of our yearly fundraising target, and our amazing community showed up in force. We can’t thank our donors enough for stepping up and helping us to serve all community members – regardless of their ability to pay,” commented Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons.

“We especially want to thank Paul B. and Joanne Prager, the Warren L. Allen Family Fund, and Jim and Cindy Reed for giving matching dollars which pushed us over our initial goal.”

Since March 2020, For All Seasons has delivered over 30,000 clinical visits and welcomed over 1,100 new cli­ents.  The cost to care for each client leaves a coverage gap that can only be met with the community’s support. This year’s online campaign captured the heart of our community – using the power of song, personal stories, and giving – through a virtual heart wall.  Daily videos showcased individual stories of mental health and the importance of reaching out for help, including a culminating video featuring a special song from For All Seasons very own Heart & Music cast.

For All Seasons wishes to thank its business partners and friends who supported the “Give With Your Heart” campaign.  Presenting | Transformation Sponsors included Paul B. and Joanne Prager and The Warren L. Allen Family Fund. Strength Sponsor was The St. John Foundation. Wellness Sponsor was Tim and Sally Kagan. Healing Sponsors included Trade Whims, Jim and Cindy Reed, Shore United Bank, and Wye Financial Partners. Hope Sponsors included Bruce Wiltsie and Bill Davenport; Ewing, Dietz, Fountain & Kaludis, P.A.; Intown Management, LLC; Hollis, Cronan, and Fronk PA; Kimberly Wilson and Amy Bush; Marasun Roofing; Rise Up Coffee Roasters; Shearer the Jeweler; Tred Avon Family Wealth; Queenstown Bank of Maryland. Help Sponsors included Bay Imprint, The Cerrato Family, Dr. Michael Flaherty & Ms. Mary Lee Murrin, Julyan Management Group, Laser Letters, Llandaff Family Trust, Sally Shaw, Tezla Group, Inc., and Willow Construction. Comfort Sponsors included An Optical Galleria, Baird, Kathy Bosin, Campbell’s Boatyards and Yacht Sales, Charles T. Capute, LLC, Karen Davis – State Farm Agent, Easton Utilities, Gallagher, La De Da, Jamie Merida Interiors / Bountiful Home, Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Seaford Presbyterian Church, and Visiting Angels. Media Sponsors included Mark Potter and the WINX FM Morning Show, WCTR, and What’s Up Media.

For further information about donating to For All Seasons, contact Katie Theeke, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at 410-822-1018 or visit forallseasonsinc.org

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 All Seasons recently sponsored the Red Sand Project to educate the public and bring awareness about human trafficking. Participants poured red sand into sidewalk cracks and used the time to start a discussion about the causes and effects of human trafficking and exploitation.

“The red sand represents the victims of human trafficking who have slipped through the cracks, yet may still be hiding in plain sight,” commented Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons.

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and it involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every state and every country is affected by human trafficking, including Maryland, which has one of the highest rates of “domestic” human trafficking in the nation.

“According to the State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, they find out that human trafficking takes place in some form or fashion in 187 countries on the planet. It takes place in all states in the United States. It takes place in all counties in Maryland. It is the second-highest profiting criminal enterprise in the U.S. In Maryland, there have been some children’s sex violations reported to the social services agencies in almost every county and that number goes up,” reports Ed Thomas, Co-Chairman of the Eastern Shore Human Trafficking Task Force.

Over the last three years, there have been sex trafficking arrests across the Shore in Easton, Cambridge, Federalsburg, Denton, and Salisbury.

Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons, points out the red flags of a human trafficking situation, stating, “Some of the red flags of a human trafficking situation are homeless youth, truancy, chronic run-aways, appearing scared or nervous, tattoos or branding, withdrawing from family, school, or church, always appearing tired.”

Regarding industries where the risk of human trafficking is increasing, Thomas states, “On the Eastern Shore, the hospitality industry, particularly in Ocean City where there are so many hotels, motels, and restaurants, employ a lot of people and in some cases take advantage of those people. There are also some concerns in the poultry industry and seafood processing. The agriculture business can also be a place where people are made to do more than they are being paid for.”

Law enforcement has been investing over the years in helping officers understand human trafficking and training them about what to do. According to Mirando, a victim who calls the For All Season’s hotline gets help with creating a safety plan, if that is what they are comfortable doing at the time.

She adds, “Every client is so different. Whatever their needs are we try to accommodate and ask each other for support. We can build trust with them and connect them to whatever services they are in need of and find them emergency shelter. I can collaborate with Ed and the Eastern Shore Human Trafficking Team to find them a safe place to go. If someone has an idea we just talk to each other through the task force and see what we can come up with together and brainstorm for that person.”

Thomas explains, “There are people who are available who are professional at this – who are very caring and they know the sensitivity of the survivors. That even includes the law enforcement folks. Their attitude is we need to care for and provide services for them. There are 10 or 12 local human trafficking task forces in the state of Maryland and they are tied together. They are linked together in terms of they know each other and know what their capabilities are.”

Ed Thomas encourages individuals and organizations who what to know more about the topic of Human Trafficking to reach out. He states, “Feel free to ask us to come meet with you, to help you provide you with information. We want to do whatever we can to share information and increase the awareness and for every person prevent from being trafficked that saves a lot of people from having tortured lifestyles.”

For further information about human trafficking, visit www.eshttf.org or https://www.mdhumantrafficking.org/. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.

For crisis support on the Mid-Shore contact the For All Seasons 24-HR Hotlines: 410.820.5600 for English or 410.829.6143 for Spanish or to text in English and Spanish.

For the past 11 years, For All Seasons has reached out to the community in March to support its Heart & Music fundraising event. Time and again, Heart and Music has raised over $80,000 for its mental health and rape crisis services. This year, instead of its traditional in-person Heart & Music event, the organization is hosting a weeklong virtual “Give With Your Heart” campaign beginning Sunday, March 21.

“During this unprecedented year, we have delivered over 30,000 clinical visits and seen over 1,100 new cli­ents.  The cost to care for each client leaves a coverage gap that can only be met with the community’s support. This year we are asking you to reimagine our fundraising efforts to help us raise these critical funds as we keep everyone safe and healthy. Our online campaign will capture the heart of our community – using the power of song, personal stories, and giving – through our beloved heart wall,” comments Beth Anne Langrell, CEO of For All Seasons.

Each day between March 21 and March 31, For All Seasons will share a video featuring its friends, clients, and staff on its social media and a virtual giving wall. The videos will showcase individual stories of mental health and the importance of reaching out for help. The culminating video, to be released on March 25, will be a special song from For All Seasons very own Heart & Music cast. The “Give With Your Heart” 10-day virtual campaign will underscore the importance of mental health and community connection and the impact it has on all of us.

Photo: For All Seasons staff shares inspiring messaging about supporting mental health services to promote its weeklong virtual “Give With Your Heart” campaign beginning Sunday, March 21. From left to right, back row: Kathy Langrell, Client Services Supervisor and Omar Bolden, Client Services Specialist. From left to right, front row: Carly Burton, LCSW-C, Licensed Clinician; Beth Anne Langrell, CEO; and Jenell Sutton, Assistant Supervisor Client Services.

“Mental Health affects everyone, whether it is our own struggles or struggles experienced by our family, friends, or coworkers. No one is immune and the pandemic has only exasperated the struggles we all face today,” adds Langrell.

Follow For All Seasons Facebook page @forallseasonsinc to see videos and to participate in the “Give With Your Heart” campaign or visit For All Seasons website at forallseasonsinc.org. For All Seasons is also looking for individual and business sponsors for the online event. Sponsorship includes recognition during the 10-day campaign. For sponsorship information, contact Katie Theeke, Director of Marketing and Communications at 443-796-6028.

For All Seasons Rape Crisis Center asks our community to share in honoring National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month this February.  Teen sexual dating violence affects millions of teens in the United States each year.  In fact, 26 percent of women and 15 percent of men experience intimate partner violence for the first time before age 18.

On the Mid-Shore, more than one in 13 teens report experiencing sexual dating violence, according to the Center for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Mid-Shore teens also experience physical dating violence at a rate that is 21 percent higher than the overall Maryland reports. (Data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Teen sexual dating violence is surprisingly common, with more than half of adolescent sexual violence occurring in the context of a dating or intimate relationship.

Sexual dating violence occurs when a dating partner forces or attempts to force a partner to participate in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent. (cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/tdv-factsheet.pdf) Often, sexual dating violence amongst teens goes hand in hand with dating violence. In these cases, teen abusers may use sexual violence as a tactic to get or keep power and control over their dating partner.

“It is vital that Mid-Shore teens have permission to call sexual dating violence what it is: a crime,” shares Kristy Mirando, Director of Victim Services at For All Seasons. “Sexual violence is always illegal, regardless of who perpetrates it or what your relationship you have with your abuser.”

Unhealthy, abusive, or violent relationships can have short and long-term adverse effects on a developing teen. For instance, teens who are victims of sexual dating violence experience higher rates of depression and anxiety symptoms and are more likely to seriously consider suicide. Additionally, these teens more frequently engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. (Data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Sexually abusive and violent behaviors can take place both in-person and electronically. Virtual sexual dating violence could include a dating partner posting sexual pictures of a partner online without their consent. It also includes a phenomenon known as ‘sextortion,’ when a dating partner threatens to expose sexual images as coercion for additional photos, sexual favors, or other things of value.

Research asserts that efforts to support the development of healthy, respectful, and nonviolent relationships can reduce the occurrence of sexual dating violence. Programs that engage young people in learning critical skills — such as managing feelings, using healthy communication, and defining and maintaining personal boundaries — can be particularly effective at preventing sexual dating violence. (cdc.gov/violenceprevention/datingmatters)

“If a teen in your life approaches you about concerns in their dating relationship, your most helpful course of action is to believe them, support them, and validate their experiences,” says Beth Anne Langrell, CEO – For All Seasons, “Communicating to them that they have access to resources and support is critical.”

How can you support the young people in your life? There are several resources listed in https://www.teendvmonth.org/category/resources/, which includes information about how to talk with your teen about sexual violence, as well as informational websites and hotlines for teens needing support, including https://www.loveisrespect.org/.

If you know a Mid-Shore teen that needs support, contact For All Seasons. For information or appointments contact 410-822-1018. For 24-hour mental health or sexual assault crisis hotlines contact 410-820-5600 for English or 410-829-6143 for Spanish or text in English and Spanish.