Queens nonprofit opens new adolescent mental health clinic
World Teen Mental Wellness Day, celebrated on March 2nd is a day to raise greater awareness about the mental health issues among teens.
In this bid, Commonpoint Queens—a nonprofit—seeks to address it by opening a new mental health clinic in Queens.
Two pandemic years have been tough to navigate as a teen.
“It’s been a rocky road, honestly,” said Saskia Walters, a junior at Martin Van Buren High School.
“Sitting behind a computer screen all day was very stressful,” Saskia said.
“Before, like, the pandemic and quarantine, I was so goofy, bubbly, like, so outgoing and now I just, like, isolate myself,” said Francesca Pierre, a senior at Martin Van Buren High School.
Francesca suffered in silence for months before opening up about feeling depressed.
“Mental health wasn’t such, like, a big thing that was talked about, so, like, when it did happen to me I didn’t know what to do,” she said.
Both teens were approached by staff at their high school who connected them to programs in partnership with Commonpoint Queens.
The nonprofit says the pandemic exacerbated the need for youth mental health services.
The long-term goal is to add primary care to the clinic so families have access to all aspects of health care under one roof.
The clinic officially opens March 14, but it’s already accepting inquiries.
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