WASHINGTON, D.C., June 4, 2020 – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and community services and health systems are increasingly strained, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) announced that its recently launched COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund will support two efforts to help health care workers: CopeNYP and Frontline Foods. The Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
The APAF will match donations up to a total of $25,000 for this effort. To give, visit the Foundation’s Disaster Relief Donation Page: https://apafdn.org/covidrelief
“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 APAF and CEO and Medical Director of the APA. “This is our way to help those who are doing so much for everyone one else right now.”
APA Foundation will split the funds raised between:
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- CopeNYP Urgent Counseling Services, which is providing access to free, confidential virtual mental health care for anyone on staff at NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell, and Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. The counseling is provided by mental health care clinicians from Weill Cornell Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. Participants receive emotional support and practical strategies to enhance their coping skills, with follow-up as needed. For more information visit: https://psychiatry.weill.cornell.edu/node/474
- Frontline Foods supports local restaurants that have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions while feeding health care workers on the frontlines 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. Frontline Foods has served 60 cities, supported 1,130 restaurants, and delivered 450,000 meals. It is partnered with World Central Kitchen (WCK), a tax-exempt, registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization led by chef José Andrés. For more information: https://www.frontlinefoods.org.
“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 APAF. “We are honored to support their work, and grateful to our members who donated to the APAF’s COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund. It’s efforts like these that show how we will get through this pandemic together.”
Learn more about APA’s COVID-19 response resources.
American Psychiatric Association Foundation
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation is the philanthropic and educational arm of APA. The APA 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 through a combination of public and professional education, research, research training, grants, and awards.
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 38,800 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information please visit www.psychiatry.org.