Psychiatry Services of New York, 3300 James Street, Syracuse, NY (2025)

09/12/2025

There are 4 types of people everyone needs in their recovery support network. We’ll walk through each one and discuss why it's important. 👥 🗣️

1. Health professionals
“The first step in any recovery journey should be meeting with a professional”, says Alexander. “That might be your doctor. Or a psychiatrist. Or even a licensed drug or alcohol counselor. Try looking on your insurance's website. Or do a local Google search.”
“It’s important that someone with proper training assess your current situation,” she explains. “These pros can help you figure out what steps to take. There’s no single solution that will work for everyone. And some substances just aren’t safe to quit cold turkey.”

2. Support groups
Research shows that both in-person and virtual groups can help support recovery.2 The latter can be ideal for people who live in more remote areas, where accessibility may be an issue.
Regardless of which you choose, you’ll meet people facing similar challenges and triggers. “Connecting with others in recovery or sober friends will help you steer clear of situations that increase the possibility of relapse,” says Alexander.

3. People who share your interests and priorities
Healthy hobbies support your general well-being. That holds true in recovery, too. They can be a positive outlet for our energy and interests. And they help relieve stress that might trigger a relapse. They also allow you to connect with people who share your interests.

4. Supportive friends and family
Loved ones can be powerful allies. But they have to understand your new priorities and what you need to be successful in your recovery. (The college pal who prods you to come out drinking on weekends? Probably not an ideal person to be around right now.)

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

09/10/2025

Know the warning signs
• Threats to harm themselves and searches for methods
• Says things like, “No one will miss me when I’m gone”
• Says goodbye and gives away things they care about
• Experiences dramatic mood swings, acts recklessly, withdraws from others, feels anxious and shows rage

Know the risk factors
• Experiences depression or a substance use disorder
• Survived a previous su***de attempt
• Becomes socially isolated
• Suffers from chronic illness or pain
• Survived abuse, trauma, war, violence or discrimination
• Going through severe distress like a breakup or loss

While your support is valuable, encourage them to seek professional help from a doctor, mental health professional or a su***de prevention specialist. If you’re worried they’re in immediate danger, don’t leave them alone. Seek help from a crisis line or emergency services and remove any methods that could be used to cause harm.

Contacting 988 is a quick way to access the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

09/06/2025

It’s important to check on your friends and family members who seem OK or even appear physically and emotionally strong 💪

⚠️ Recognizing emotional distress:
Many people throughout the world live with situational or chronic depression and anxiety, among other mental health conditions. Most go untreated for a variety of reasons, including not knowing they need help, fear being judged or treated differently, or wrongly believing needing help is a sign of weakness.

In both cases, there may be signs you can notice, such as:
-Changes in behavior, like withdrawing from or avoiding family and friends or activities they like, sleeping more, being less productive, increased use of alcohol and other substances or decreased s*x drive.
-Changes in appearance, such as skipping bathing and grooming, looking tired or sad or gaining or losing a lot of weight.
-Changes in mood, like worrying and stressing out more, overreacting to situations, getting agitated, aggressive or angry or feeling sad and hopeless.
-Changes in communication, such as posting dark or cryptic social media messages, criticizing themselves often, talking about physical pain or not feeling well or talking about hurting themselves.

To reach a trained crisis counselor, call the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline (previously known as the National Su***de Prevention Lifeline) at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). You may also text 988 or chat at http://spr.ly/6184AEB2M. The lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support.

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

08/29/2025

For some families, talking about mental health might be an everyday occurrence. For others, it may be unfamiliar and feel a little awkward. But the more you talk about it, the more comfortable it will feel. This goes for both you and your loved ones. 👪 👨‍👩‍👦

1. Remember what being a teen is like
Teenagers are going through a time of change. They may be getting their first job, learning to drive, hanging out with friends more and spending less time with parents. These are all common adolescent experiences.

2. Watch for cues
Teens may bring up mental health topics on their own. They might mention what a friend is going through or how they're feeling themselves. This is a cue that your teen might be feeling mental health pressure. They might be ready to talk about it with you.

3. Respect differences
There's a good chance you and the teen or young adult in your life will have different opinions about political, social or other topics.Try to respect their different views. This can help you build trust and make them more open to talking.

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

08/29/2025

We have a new Nurse Practitioner in office! 🪴

We are pleased to announce the addition of a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for patients ages 6 to 18. Our NP is accepting patients to be seen at our James St offices. Please note, patients must not have graduated high school and be available to meet in person for the initial appointment.

🌱Currently in network with the following insurance companies:
-Aetna
-Carelon
-CDPHP
-Optum
-United
-Self pay is available

Call or go online to learn more! 315.422.0300

08/25/2025

The lazy days of summer are over. Returning to school brings back busy schedules. For some kids, the new year can also bring worries. They may be concerned about their new teacher or about the workload. They could be stressing about who they’ll sit with at lunch. Or they could feel anxious about making the leap to middle school or high school. 🌻

Normalize your child’s feelings. Let your child know that their feelings are OK. Tell them that new things can feel scary. Plus, it’s natural to be jittery about a new school year, no matter how old they are. As you’re talking, you can share a time that you felt nervous about something, too. Be sure to focus on the positive: It was a little hard at first but then everything turned out fine.

You can also remind them about the good things that come with a new school year. They’ll learn new things and make new friends. Maybe they’ll also get some new privileges, too, such as a later bedtime or a later weekend curfew (for older kids).

And don’t forget the power of new school supplies. Buying new notebooks, pencils and other school supplies is fun for kids. Set aside time to pick out things together, then get their homework space set up. You can even decorate it together. That will help them see that you’re excited, too.

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

08/11/2025

Youth can find a lot of educational, fun and inspiring content online. But they also may come across unsettling, inappropriate and distressing content that can impact their mental health and wellbeing. 👧 👦

1) Define boundaries. Limit exposure to news coverage and social media use. Let them know they can talk to you about what they see, so they have a supportive outlet. Also, consider blocking sites you prefer they don’t see or think may trouble them.

2) Share information. Talk with your child about the news, explaining things at a level appropriate to their age. Listen and answer any questions they may have. Also, let them know it’s OK to ask questions and encourage them to do so. The more questions they hold inside, the more they might wonder, worry and let their imagination spiral to worst-case scenarios.

3) Be as truthful as possible. Answer their questions to the best of your knowledge and ability, and in a way they can understand. If you do not know the answer, that’s OK. Tell them you don’t know. You also could use this as an opportunity to teach them useful “media literacy” skills by showing them how to find information from a reliable source.

4) Be patient. Until a child fully comprehends the situation or feels reassured, they may ask the same question or similar questions several times. This is natural. By remaining calm and compassionate, you can help them sort it out and feel less stressed.

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

08/08/2025

🌟 Give yourself space to change. Whether you’re heading off to university, moving to a new city or starting a job, you don’t have to know everything right now. Expect to grow and shift as you experience life.

😁 Make good choices. You need to look out for yourself. That includes considering the consequences of your actions, like staying out late the night before a major exam or splurging when you’re on a tight budget.

✍️ Understand you’re a work in progress. You may legally be an adult, but your body, mind and spirit continue developing well into your early 30s. Don’t be afraid to ask for help thinking through tough decisions or difficult feelings.

👨‍💻 Stay connected. Regularly keep in touch with trusted adults who can offer support and valuable advice.

🥗 Take care of yourself. Practice self-care for better health and wellbeing. That includes getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and being active.
Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

08/04/2025

International Youth Day is celebrated around the world every year on August 12. The United Nations’ goal is to give youth a voice in how communities and the future are shaped. In honor of this important day, let’s explore ways to nurture and raise awareness for youth mental health and well-being. 🧒 👟

Quick Stats:
-1 in 7 adolescents are affected by mental illnesses
-50% of mental illnesses begin by age 14

People with mental illnesses can and do lead active, productive lives, showing that these conditions can affect individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life. It’s important to understand that seeking professional help is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone deserves the support they need to thrive.

👉 Complete 3 activities each week on your own or with an adolescent in your care:
http://spr.ly/6184fdPqG

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
📲 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

08/01/2025

Preparing for transitions: Back to School 🎒 ✏️

🍎 Be empathetic
One of the most important ways to support your child is to consider their perspective. Sure, they may be excited to graduate to a new level, do new activities and meet new people. But they also are likely to feel nervous about the uncertainty change brings. Will they like their new teachers? Will they miss their current friends? Will they remember where the restroom is? Will they be able to manage the schoolwork? Will they feel accepted?

🍎 Recognize signs of stress and anxiety
Change is tough for most people at any age. Moving grades or schools can bring anxious thoughts and stress. Younger children might tell you through changes in behavior. They might get clingy, act out, withdraw or misbehave. They also might show their feelings through drawings and role-play with toys.

🍎 Encourage communication and expression
When they begin sharing what’s on their minds, do your best to listen and give them space to feel what they feel. As a caregiver, you can help them process their thoughts and emotions — and find comfort in the process. Use gentle, age-appropriate prompts to help guide them to think through their feelings and worries.

🍎 Empower decision-making
Giving them age-appropriate choices can also help them feel more in control. For a younger child, it could be picking a book to read or choosing their favorite snack. For an older child, it could be letting them choose their own outfits or supplies. For an adolescent considering universities, it could be narrowing the options based on practical criteria — such as admission requirements, cost, location, fields of study, their interests and cultural or familial considerations — and letting them make the final decision.

Wanting to know more about your mental health?
👉 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

07/28/2025

Beyond awareness: Take action to support your mental health

Value yourself 🧠
We all start from different places with different experiences, goals and opportunities. Take time to get to know yourself. Why do you believe what you believe? What has shaped you? What things and people do you genuinely enjoy? What are your hopes and goals? How do you want to be treated? And how do you want to treat others?

Make decisions 🧠
If you ignore your thoughts and feelings, they just stay there. Over time, they may add up and grow. But you have the power to decide what to do with those thoughts and feelings to help yourself.
For example, let’s say you have a co-worker who frequently interrupts you during meetings. It’s frustrating. And over time, it becomes more frustrating. You begin to anticipate the interruptions ahead of meetings, which angers you. You then begin to brace yourself to be annoyed during meetings. It keeps building, until you become openly hostile to them, such as snapping at them during a meeting or showing your anger through your body language. In either case, the situation is causing you stress and potentially hurting your work performance.

Let go 🧠
All you can control is yourself and how you react in any given situation. That includes how you interact with other people. So, rather than getting worked up or thinking through something over and over, do your best to pause and consider what’s in your control and what’s beyond it. A good example is standing in an airport security line. Getting upset the line isn’t moving faster won’t do anything but make you angry. Instead, you could decide to go with the flow and amuse yourself with a podcast or visualizing fun memories.

👉 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

07/21/2025

Who are you? 🤔
A combination of factors shapes your self-identity, which is how you see yourself. These include your personality, abilities, appearance, interests, culture and more. It also includes the role you play in your close relationships and the larger community. When you feel uncertain about who you are, it can sometimes lead you to do things you don’t want to do or that aren’t in your best interest. It can also make it harder to appreciate your own value, purpose and potential.

Be honest with yourself 😁
It’s important to consider your own perceptions and potential biases that shape how you think, feel and act. It’s natural to feel more comfortable with people who are most like you, to favor information that supports your existing beliefs and to hold onto assumptions. But just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it always serves you or others.

Ask for feedback 😳
Another approach is to ask people you trust for feedback. You could ask them to share qualities they admire in you, as well as areas they think you might consider improving. You could also ask them for their take on experiences you remember strongly or have strong feelings about. For example, you might ask your sister how she remembers the argument you recently had with your parents. She may offer insights into the situation you didn’t consider or don’t remember, which could help you understand the impact of your own actions differently. And you might realize that these actions reflect patterns of behaviors that have influenced your relationships.

👉 Find care at: http://spr.ly/61812rm57 or call 1-877-OBC-0013

Psychiatry Services of New York

09/12/2025

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