Gracie Square Hospital

Today kicks off National Nurse's Week! Our Nurse Residency Program was launched in June 2020. The first cohort of nurse residents completed a six-month program in December 2020 and successfully presented their Evidence Based Project at Research and EBP Project on February 24, 2021. Their palpable enthusiasm continues as they work on launching the project across all patient care units at Gracie Square Hospital. The program has better prepared our nurse residents to be successful in their nursing roles. Congratulations to our 3 graduates, Michaela Gianfrancesco, Cristina Hywel, and Sharon Li. We wish you all the best in your nursing careers!

Happy Nurse’s Week from all of us at Gracie Square! We are so thankful for your dedication and commitment to caring for others. The world is a better place because of all that you do. Tag a nurse you want to thank in the comments below. https://youtu.be/9hp-cj4whAQ

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2021 Clinical Nursing Excellence Award and Physician of the Year Award. The Clinical Excellence Recognition Program recognizes nurses and support team members who demonstrate excellence in clinical practice and professionalism at Gracie Square Hospital and in the community. The Physician of the Year Award is the Nursing Department's annual celebration of collegiality, collaboration and the physicians' contributions to GSH's nursing practice. Congratulations to our 2021 winners, and a sincere thank you to all of our team members who are committed to excellence every day.

For over six decades, Gracie Square Hospital has provided comprehensive and personalized behavioral health care to thousands of individuals in NYC and beyond. Our staff understands that mental health is complex and at times intimidating. Through our extraordinary period of revitalization we are reimagining the way behavioral health care is offered, and working hard to improve the lives our of patients and their loved ones. For more information about our innovative and transformative patient-centered programs, visit us online at www.nygsh.org

In celebration of Mental Awareness Month, Gracie Square Hospital will join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Throughout the month, we will share resources and learn tools to build resilience, bring awareness to communities facing mental health challenges, and celebrate the many ways Gracie Square Hospital, our staff, patients and their families have found their resiliency when faced with difficult times. Join us in this movement throughout May, and encourage others too!

A Message from David Wyman: Dear Gracie Square Hospital Community, A year ago, none of us could have imagined what 2020 would bring, and I want to express my gratitude to each member of the Gracie Square Hospital team. Throughout this year, they have overcome personal challenges so our patients could receive the care they need. They have shown incredible resilience and true dedication to excellence.... We are beginning 2021 with the hope that life will return to normal before year’s end. At the same time, we know that so many people continue to struggle with mental health. The ongoing generosity of the Gracie Square community, as evidenced on last year’s #GivingTuesday, will help us to provide excellent care in the years to come, and I am so appreciative of this support. Thank you to every member of our Gracie Square family for your commitment to our patients and for working to create a stronger understanding of mental health. I look forward to embarking on this New Year and to all of the successes to come, for each of us at Gracie Square Hospital. Sincerely, David A. Wyman, MPA President and Chief Executive Officer

December is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Month, a time to check in on your loved ones during the winter months. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression related to the change in seasons, typically beginning in the fall and continuing through winter. People with SAD often feel tired, moody and depressed, but effective treatments include light therapy, medications and psychotherapy. If someone you know is experiencing SAD, help is available. #mentalhealth

Thank you to everyone for your support on Giving Tuesday last week! We are proud to report that we exceeded our goal, thanks to your generosity and efforts.

Gifts to #GracieSquareHospital directly supports our staff’s critical and impactful work for patients and their families during this giving season. Share why you plan to #GiveToGracie by using one of our virtual backgrounds, just like some of our incredible staff!

There's still time to contribute to our #GivingTuesday campaign and help us make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families! Donors giving above $25 will receive a Gracie Square face mask. Thank you for supporting #GracieSquareHospital and our commitment to providing impactful care to our patients.

At #GracieSquareHospital, Quality & Excellence is one of our core values and we work tirelessly to build and improve upon a strong quality infrastructure. For National Healthcare Quality Week, we want to recognize our front- line staff for their dedication to improvement through their participation in numerous Quality and Patient Safety Committees. These committees identify risk factors and opportunities allowing our staff to improve, implement, and measure the impact of their actions. #MentalHealth #HealthcareQuality For more information on how we function as a top-performing inpatient behavioral hospital, visit our website: http://www.nygsh.org/

Thanks to an anonymous donor, all gifts to the #GivingTuesday effort will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000 which means your gift will count twice as much and double the impact. Make it easy to #GivetoGracie today by scanning the QR code below!

It is not uncommon for clinical depression to be linked to suicidal thoughts. That's why it’s so important to recognize the warning signs when someone is contemplating suicide, especially as we deal with added stress from the pandemic. Dr. Nadine Chang, a psychologist at #GracieSquareHospital urges everyone to take signs like changes in behavior, lack of motivation, extreme reactions to challenges, and hoarding medications seriously. If you notice someone is in trouble, reach out and establish a connection. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at (800) 273-8255. #DepressionAwareness #MentalHealth For more tips from Dr. Chang, visit: https://consumer.healthday.com//during-stress-of-pandemic-

John Zirinsky is a member of the #GracieSquareHospital Board of Trustees and a member of the Gracie Square Hospital Founding Family. We thank him and his family for their years of generosity and support for Gracie Square Hospital and our impactful work. We hope you enjoy hearing why John remains involved. Share why you plan to #GiveToGracie today using one of our virtual backgrounds, and learn more at: https://www.nygsh.org/giving.html

This month is Health Literacy Month, and at #GracieSquareHospital we strive to provide our patients with the tools necessary to understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. We use the Short Assessment of Health Literacy offered through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to help us assess our patients and improve the quality of care we provide. For more information on how we work with our patients, visit our website: http://www.nygsh.org/

Today is National Depression Screening Day, and many online sites can help recognize and identify signs of depression, including social media platforms. Dr. Alan Geller, a psychiatrist at #GracieSquareHospital specializing in mood disorders, discusses the pros of this technology on Facebook. #MentalHealth #DepressionAwareness Read the full story:

October is #DepressionAwareness month. Depression can affect anyone at any age and doesn't feel the same for everyone. One way to relieve depression is to reduce stress in your life. To manage and reduce stress, Dr. Smita Agarkar, chief of #GracieSquareHospital's Crisis Stabilization Unit, recommends exercising regularly and making time for hobbies. If it's too much to handle on your own, it's important to seek professional help. Read more here: https://consumer.healthday.com//dial-down-the-stress-74075

It’s important to know the warning signs of when someone is contemplating suicide, especially as we deal with added stress from the pandemic. Dr. Nadine Chang, a psychologist at #GracieSquareHospital urges everyone to check in on loved ones and to notice signs like changes in behavior, lack of motivation, extreme reactions to challenges, and hoarding medications. If you notice someone who is in trouble, reach out and establish a connection. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at (800) 273-8255. #mentalhealth #suicideprevention For more tips from Dr. Chang, visit:

#SuicidePrevention Month is a reminder to us all to #BeTheOne2 be there for our loved ones. Individuals are likely to feel less overwhelmed and more hopeful when speaking to someone who listens without judgment. If you or someone you know is in need of free and confidential support and resources, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

#NationalRecoveryMonth is a time to celebrate our loved ones that are on the #PathtoRecovery, and also a time to share resources and provide support. Dr. Nahla Mahgoub, psychiatrist and unit chief at #GracieSquareHospital, shares her tips for overcoming addiction and offers advice in understanding and planning how to combat cravings and identifying both environmental and emotional triggers:

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, a day where we can all make an effort to #Bethe1To reach out to and connect with our loved ones. Research shows that people having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way, and acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation. #GracieSquareHospital #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealth

During National Suicide Prevention Week, we at #GracieSquareHospital are reminded that we can all work together to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions promoting healing, help and hope. By raising awareness to resources like The Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 and our services as behavioral healthcare providers, we hope to end the feelings of shame and stigma that prevent those affected by suicide loss from speaking openly. #suicideprevention #mentalhealth

Suicidal thoughts, much like behavioral health disorders, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. If you or someone you know is in distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for free and confidential support and resources. #GracieSquareHospital #SuicidePrevention #BeThe1To #MentalHealth

We are excited to share photos of the recent lobby renovations at #GracieSquareHospital! Our reimagined lobby reflects Gracie's commitment to providing patients with the best and most current treatment, and emphasizes that the #pathtorecovery begins the moment you step through our doors. #mentalhealth

Dr. Alan Geller, a psychiatrist at #GracieSquareHospital, recently provided a virtual presentation to the Moise Safra Center on the importance of creating structure and safety in adolescent's lives during the #COVID19 pandemic. Many teens and children are at high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Dr. Geller offers helpful tips so parents can ease anxiety by creating structure during an unstructured time. You can watch the full presentation here: