Grace Cunningham: Miracle Worker in the Hudson
Everywhere we turn, different outlets — whether its TV, magazines, or digital platforms — teach us the latest and wackiest trends to shed some pounds, grow out our hair, attain better skin, or fix whatever flaw we believe exists — but what about mental health?
Our society has made mental health a seemingly uncomfortable topic to avoid discussing, and it is left to be swept under the rug — but why? Emotional up-keeping is vital for all of us no matter what gender, what age, where you’re from, etc.
Diving deeper into the discussion — let’s get serious — Suicide. Just the sound of the word makes me squirm in my seat to be honest — but it is a very real and serious epidemic. According to the most recent study done by the CDC, on average, every five hours there is a death by suicide in the state of New York. We here so much about crime, violence, and killing — but in New York suicide takes more than twice as many lives than homicide does… let that sink in. These are real, hard-hitting facts. Some individuals are faced with many adversities in life, so much so, that they don’t know any other way out.
Diverging to another sector of mental health — sometimes when one is struggling with his/her personal darkness and can’t get the necessary help, it begins to impact those around them, and more seriously, the children around them. According to the Child Welfare League of America, there were over 156,000 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in New York in 2015, and 108 child deaths out of those cases.
But with people like Grace Cunningham, and the many other amazing individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others in the Hudson Valley, struggling individuals can find a path to a better life.
Grace is a social worker for the Family Education Program, a branch at the Family Services Inc. in Kingston, NY. “I offer home-based parent education and supervised visitation for parents of children under the age of three currently living in foster care. My goal is to accelerate either reunification with birth parents, or other permanent and stable placement for infants,” Grace tells me, as she explains her specific role at her company. The Family Education Program employs a strength-based and family-focused approach to engage families at risk of having a child placed outside of the home and/or where abuse or neglect has occurred. Their aim is to foster healthy adaptive patterns of behavior and communication within families and among family members.
Grace has made a positive impact to families in the area, assisting them to form a more stable home. She works closely with two clients in Kingston, both mothers, as well as working with the Celebrating Families Group, which is a program for nine families that come together once a week to do family dinner — to give parents an extra visit to their children since they currently do not have custody rights. Explaining the gathering, Grace said, “After dinner we break into different groups, I work with 5–8 year olds, each group talks about addiction and recovery to help children understand that addiction does not make your parents a bad people. We help them to understand it as a disease and its implications. After the groups the parents and children come together to reconnect. It’s so magical seeing parents in recovery be with their children and have their children see them in a healthier more understanding light. It breaks the cycle of addiction, and increases successful reunification for families.”
The Hudson Valley offers resources for those who do need an outlet to reach out to in times of need. The Department of Mental Hygiene does have a branch that serves as a stabilization center, which is located across the street from Mike Artega’s by Marist College and is available to all 24 hours of the day, seven days a week.
“It is for those in emotional distress, intoxication, anxiety or depression, addiction, family issues, psychiatric symptoms. They have crisis counseling, supervised outpatient withdrawal services, addiction counselors, peer advocacy and support groups, family counseling, and they also can you link you to community-based services,” as described by Grace. Additionally, the Mental Health America of Dutchess County organization offers advocacy, support, education, and service programs to people with a mental illness, their families, friends, mental health professionals, and the general public. There is also a mental health hotline that people can utilize at all hours, and permits texting as well, at 845–485–9700. For more, great resources, you can visit the mental health section of the Dutchess County Government website.
“I think recognizing you are stressed or depressed is something people don’t really do. They are ashamed that they’re sad and stressed because of this cut-throat society we live in where we are always on the go looking for the next best thing. I think telling yourself that these feelings are okay and normal and happen is important. Thinking ‘hey I am feeling down and need to talk to someone,’ is nothing to be ashamed of. We aren’t going to be happy all the time and that is okay, but when we are feeling down its important we do something about that — whether it is talking to a professional or speaking to a friend. To alleviate stress and anxiety, its cliché, but physical activity, even if it’s just walking on the treadmill, it works. Drawing, writing, dancing, doing something you love to take your mind off things is amazing. Always tell yourself that this is temporary and it will pass!!!” — Grace Cunningham
Photo of Ms. Grace Cunningham, 23, Social Worker in Kingston, NY.
