FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Nicole Joy Hales, PRfirst, 617-947-7983, nhales@prfirst.com

Whittier Street Health Center Recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month

BOSTON, MA, ISSUED MAY 10, 2023…Whittier Street Health Center, a community health center with a mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high quality and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of a diverse patient population, stresses the importance of spreading knowledge and fighting stigmas surrounding mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond.

May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949 and while the stigma surrounding mental health and its treatment has thankfully changed for the better over the past seven decades, people still often hesitate to talk about or seek help for related issues – this despite significant advances in the care and treatment of those living with mental health concerns.

Whittier Street Health Center has long recognized the need for accessible and confidential counseling and treatment for those suffering with mental illness. Its Behavioral Health Department, comprised of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and licensed mental health counselors offer individual, family, couple, group counseling, and medication management services for all ages. Treatment is available for a wide range of mental health issues, including depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and stress related problems.

“Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with mental health issues,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “May is a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health concerns and to help reduce the stigma so many experience.”

Said Christine Pajarillo, vice president of programs and social services with Whittier Street Health Center, “Mental and physical health are equally important components to the overall wellbeing of everyone – children, adolescents, and adults alike. We are committed year-round to providing the counseling, treatment, and support of our patients who are experiencing mental health issues or are concerned about loved ones who need related help.”

About Whittier Street Health Center

Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community health care center with a mission of providing high quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare for diverse populations while promoting wellness and eliminating health and social disparities. A champion of equitable access to high quality, patient-focused care, social justice and economic equity, Whittier Street Health Center is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by the NCQA for its Behavioral Health Integration. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, and its Mobile Health Van program, Whittier Street Health Center serves more than 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and greater Boston. Approximately 28% of Whittier’s patients are uninsured. Whittier Street Health Center provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. For more information, please visit www.wshc.org as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter), Twitter (@Whittier_Boston), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center), or call 617-989-3221.