The American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) has launched a COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund to support America’s frontline health care professionals fighting the global pandemic.
The Disaster Relief Fund will support the efforts of two groups—CopeNYP Urgent Counselling Services and Frontline Foods—to provide mental health care and food to health care professionals. The APAF will match donations up to a total of $25,000. Individuals wishing to contribute—and double the impact of their gift via this match—should visit the Foundation’s COVID-19 donation page (see end of story).
“These efforts will help address the essential needs and mental health care of our health care workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., chair of the APAF Board of Directors and CEO and medical director of APA. “This is our way to help those who are doing so much for everyone else right now.”
CopeNYP Urgent Counseling Services provides access to free, confidential, virtual mental health care for staff at NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell, and Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. The counseling is provided by practitioners at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. Participants receive emotional support and learn strategies to enhance their coping skills.
Frontline Foods supports local restaurants that have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions while feeding health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Frontline Foods volunteers match restaurants with hospitals and health care facilities, work with restaurants to establish health and safety guidelines, and coordinate safe meal deliveries for hospital workers. To date, Frontline Foods has served 60 cities, supported 1,130 restaurants, and delivered 450,000 meals. It is partnered with World Central Kitchen, a charitable organization led by chef José Andrés.
“CopeNYP and Frontline Foods are two inspiring, innovative efforts to help frontline health care workers in the midst of this pandemic,” said Amy Porfiri, M.B.A., interim executive director of the APAF. “We are honored to support their work and grateful to our members who donate to the APAF’s COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund. It’s efforts like these that show how we will get through this pandemic together.”
The APAF is the philanthropic and educational arm of APA. The Foundation promotes awareness of mental illnesses and the effectiveness of treatment, the importance of early intervention, access to care, and the need for high-quality services and treatment. Its work is accomplished through public and professional education, research, training, grants, fellowships, and awards. ■
Information about contributing to the APAF COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund is posted
here.
Information about CopeNYP is posted
here.
Information about Frontline Foods is posted
here.
