Support the Ithaca Free Clinic!

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The Sophie Fund’s 2024 Cupcake Button fundraiser is live! Each October, we coordinate with college student organizations to raise monies for a local nonprofit focused on community well-being.

This year’s campaign is collecting donations for the Ithaca Free Clinic, helmed by Executive Director Norbert McCloskey. As its name indicates, the Free Clinic provides medical and other health services to clients regardless of their ability to pay. It primarily serves individuals who are without health insurance, or whose health insurance does not cover the services they need.

“Health care as a human right”

According to McCloskey, the Free Clinic provides healthcare services to people who earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid, are too young to be eligible for Medicare, and do not earn nearly enough to afford usable, low copay and low deductible health insurance plans available through the Affordable Care Act’s Market Place.

“These are good people stuck in a bad place. The Ithaca Free Clinic provides no-cost healthcare services for these individuals that they can find nowhere else in our region,” he said.

In the first eight months of 2024, the Free Clinic provided free health care services to 671 individuals (438 female patients and 233 male patients) in 1,269 scheduled appointments.

The Free Clinic uses an Integrative Health Care model, which mixes conventional medical methods with complementary methods in a coordinated manner. It provides the following free services for uninsured and under-insured individuals by licensed, certified, and trained community volunteers:

Medical Clinics. Free primary health care, medical testing, women’s health services, and employment physicals for the uninsured.

Chronic Care Program. Targeting at-risk individuals who need help managing persistent pain, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.

Financial Advocacy. Helping find creative solutions to relieving financial debt for those struggling to keep up with medical bills.

Ithaca Health Fund. Offering grants to those needing help affording diagnostic tests, treatments and prescriptions.

Insurance Navigation. Help in qualifying and enrolling uninsured individuals in various Medicaid plans.

Holistic Health Care Services. That include chiropractic, therapeutic massage, herbal therapy, and acupuncture.

Occupational Therapy. Creating healthy self-care routines, building connections with others, using technology for managing health, learning about supports in the community.

Food Pharmacy. Registered dietician services and free healthy food items.

Prescription Medication Support. Assistance in obtaining free or low-cost prescription medications like insulin.

Optometry Clinic and Optician Services. Free dilated eye exams and glaucoma screenings and free prescription eye glasses.

Health Education. Conducting free community chronic disease health screenings, educational seminars, lectures and open houses to deliver crucial health information to our community.

The by-appointment-only clinic does not provide primary care for individuals with health insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, employer-based, etc.). It does not provide emergency care or narcotics prescriptions.

McCloskey said that the Free Clinic receives no federal or state financial funding, completely relying on community support in the form of monetary donations, in-kind donations, and the generous donation of the time and talent of its volunteers.

The Ithaca Free Clinic opened in 2006 as one of the first to offer both primary medical and holistic care through an integrated model. The Ithaca Health Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization that sponsors and operates the Ithaca Free Clinic. The Alliance has been dedicated to seeking solutions to local healthcare challenges since 1997.

This year’s Cupcake Button campaign for the Ithaca Free Clinic is supported by many student organizations, including Cornell University’s Cornell Circle K, Pre-Professional Association Toward Careers in Health (PATCH), Alpha Phi Omega–Gamma Chapter, and Cornell Minds Matter.

Students raise money through various in-person activities (and provide donors with Cupcake Buttons) on campus and in the community.

Community members may also contribute to the campaign directly through The Sophie Fund’s DONATE button.

Since 2017 the Cupcake Button campaigns have raised more than $7,000 for organizations including: Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service; Mental Health Association in Tompkins County; Advocacy Center of Tompkins County; Village at Ithaca; The Learning Web; National Alliance on Mental Illness–Finger Lakes; and Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca.

The symbol of the campaign is a Cupcake Button, because the fundraising takes place in the runup to the Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest hosted by The Sophie Fund. To enter this year’s cupcake contest held on October 19, click here.

For more information about The Sophie Fund, go to: www.thesophiefund.org

Youth Bullying Is on the Rise

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After a downtick earlier in the decade, U.S. high school students are reporting an increase in bullying at school, according to the “Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Data Summary & Trends Report 2013-2023” released in August by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Tompkins County schools, 1 in 4 students report being bullied on school property

The report said that 19 percent of survey respondents reported being bullied at school, compared to 15 percent in the 2021 YRBS survey. The figure was slightly lower than the 20 percent who reported being a victim of bullying on school property back in 2013.

Twenty-two percent of female students and 29 percent of those identifying as LGBTQ+, compared to 17 percent of male students, reported being bullied at school.

The percentage of males and females reporting school bullying in 2023 compared to 2021 increased from 13 percent to 17 percent, and 17 percent to 22 percent, respectively. The percentage of LGBTQ+ students reporting school bullying jumped from 23 percent to 29 percent.

The percentage of students reporting cyberbullying has remained very constant over the past 10 years, fluctuating between 15 percent and 16 percent. Female and LGBTQ+ students, 21 percent and 25 percent, respectively, were about twice as likely to be bullied online than male students (12 percent).

The national data show that 23 percent of white teens, 21 percent of multiracial teens, 17 percent of American Indian teens, 16 percent of Hispanic teens, 14 percent of Black teens, and 11 percent of Asian teens, reported being bullied at school.

The survey showed that 20 percent of white teens, 18 percent of multiracial teens, 15 percent of American Indian teens, 14 percent of Hispanic teens, 13 percent of Asian teens, and 11 percent of Black teens experienced cyberbullying.

In Tompkins County, youth bullying appears more prevalent than the national average, according to the Community-Level Youth Development Evaluation (CLYDE) survey of students in grades 7-12 in 2023.

According to the survey, 27.4 percent of the Tompkins students reported being bullied at school and 20 percent reported being cyberbullied.

The 2023 figures represented a jump from the data reported in the previous 2021 CLYDE survey. Students reporting being bullied at school increased from 21.2 percent to 27.4 percent; those reporting cyberbullying dipped slightly from 20.8 percent to 20 percent.

READ: Bullying Prevention Month Activities in Tompkins County

The CLYDE survey numbers may skew higher in part because, unlike the national YRBS, the Tompkins data includes 7th and 8th graders who register bullying experiences anywhere from five to 15 percentage points higher than high schoolers.

Indeed, the highest percentages for Tompkins school bullying and cyberbullying were among middle school students; 34.7 percent and 39 percent of 7th and 8th grade students, respectively, reported being bullied at school. Similarly, 23.8 percent and 25 percent, respectively, reported being cyberbullied.

Those numbers represent a notable increase since the 2021 CLYDE survey, when 29 percent and 24.6 percent of 7th and 8th graders, respectively, reported school bullying; and 23 percent and 22.4 percent reported being cyberbullied.

Broken down by gender and race in the CLYDE survey, being a victim of bullying at school was reported by 36.6 percent of all other gender identities, 36.3 percent of Black girls, 34.8 percent of all American Indian youth, 33.9 percent of all Black youth, 29 percent of all girls, 25.9 percent of all Hispanic youth, 24.8 percent of all males, and 19.3 percent of all Asian youth.

Being a victim of cyberbullying was reported by 28.3 percent of Black girls, 27 percent of all American Indians, 24.6 percent of all Black youth, 24.3 percent of all girls, 19.5 percent of Hispanic youth, 19 percent of all other gender identities, and 16.2 percent of all males, and 16.2 percent of all Asian youth.

The CDC defines youth bullying as “any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated.” The CDC says that bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm.

According to stopbullying.gov, a website operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the relationship between bullying and suicide is complex. The website says that persistent bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior. But most young people who die by suicide have multiple risk factors, the website says.

Concerned about bullying? To contact or join the Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force, email The Sophie Fund at: thesophiefund2016@gmail.com

Worsening Trends in Teen Mental Health and Suicide

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Our teens continue to experience poor mental health, according to a new U.S. government report. Female and LGBTQ+ students are far more likely to experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, the report said.

4 in 10 students said they feel sad or hopeless

“The percentages of students who experienced poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors are still concerningly high,” said the “Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Data Summary & Trends Report 2013-2023” released in August by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report said that 10-year trends are improving for some areas of adolescent health and well-being, including sexual risk behaviors and substance use.

“Unfortunately, the data show that from 2013 to 2023, almost all other indicators of health and well-being worsened. Data highlight worsening trends in protective sexual behaviors, experiences of violence, persistent sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” the report said.

The CDC conducts the YRBS every two years among a nationally representative sample of public and private high school students. It provides the most recent surveillance data as well as 10-year trends and two-year changes in health behaviors and experiences. The survey tracks sexual behavior, substance use, violence, mental health, suicidal thoughts ad behaviors, social media use, and racism in schools.

According to the survey, 29 percent of respondents said they had poor mental health during the previous 30 days; and 4 in 10 said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year. Female teens were twice as likely as males—53 percent to 28 percent—to report those experiences; and nearly 2 in 3 students identifying as LGBTQ+ reported persistent sadness or hopelessness.

The survey results for suicidal behaviors were particularly concerning. Twenty percent of respondents said they seriously considered taking their own lives during the previous year; 16 percent reported making a suicide plan; and nearly 1 in 10 students said they had actually made a suicide attempt.

Looking for help? DOWNLOAD the 2024 Mental Health Support and Crisis Services guide for Tompkins County

There were some major disparities in sex, and sexual and gender identity. For example, 39 percent of female respondents reported poor mental health compared to 19 percent for males; 53 percent of teens identifying as LGBTQ+ reported poor mental health.

Female students were twice as likely to consider suicide than their male counterparts: 27 percent of females (and 41 percent of students identifying as LGBTQ+) said they considered making an attempt compared to 14 percent of males.

Similar wide disparities were seen in actual suicide attempts: 20 percent of LGBTQ+ students, 13 percent of female students, and 6 percent of male students reported trying to take their own lives.

The 2023 survey results showed a slight improvement, declining from 42 percent to 40 percent, over the previous two years in feelings of sadness and hopelessness. All other indicators remained static. However, the 10-year trends showed worsening teen mental health.

Forty percent of respondents reported persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness in 2023, compared to 30 percent in 2013. Percentages of those with suicidal thoughts and behaviors also increased, though relatively slightly.

The new YRBS survey showed a slight decline from the 2021 survey, from 14 percent to 13 percent, in female teens reporting being forced to have sexual intercourse. The figure still represented an increase over the 10 percent reporting forced sex in 2013.

In other areas, the 2023 survey showed a marked drop over 10 years, from 47 percent to 32 percent, in students reporting having ever had sex; and also a decline from 15 percent to 6 percent in those reporting four or more lifetime sexual partners. Twenty-one percent of students reported being currently sexually active. However, the CDC said there were also concerning decreases in condom use, STD testing, and HIV testing.

Downward trends were seen in alcohol and drug use. Twenty-two percent of respondents said they currently drink alcohol, compared to 35 percent in 2013; percentages of using marijuana and illicit drugs declined from 23 percent to 17 percent, and 16 percent to 10 percent, respectively.

Currently, according to the survey results, 22 percent of respondents drank alcohol in the previous 30 days; 17 percent used marijuana.

In new area of the survey, 77 percent of respondents reported using social media several times a day. Only about half of students said they felt close to people at their school.

Also, 32 percent of students reported experiencing racism in school; the figures were highest for Asian teens (57 percent), multiracial teens (49 percent), Black teens (46 percent), and Hispanic teens (39 percent).

Read about the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2011-2021

According to CDC, poor mental health can result in serious negative outcomes for the health and development of adolescents, which can last into adulthood. Young people who feel hopeless about their future are more likely to engage in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy, it says. Suicide risk not only places the life of the adolescent at risk, but is also a marker for experience with trauma and other mental health issues, CDC notes.

The CDC report called attention to the role that schools play in the lives and development of young people.

“Partnering with and supporting schools has the potential to reach large numbers of young people with strategies that can make a positive impact. Schools can provide education, connections, and environments that lessen the impact of negative life events and promote health and well-being,” the report said.

The CDC developed an “action guide” to assist schools with strategies it says are proven to improve the sexual, behavioral, and mental health of students: “Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders.”

The guide outlines six strategies include increasing students’ mental health literacy; promoting mindfulness; promoting social, emotional, and behavioral learning; enhancing connectedness; providing psychosocial skills training and cognitive behavioral interventions; and supporting staff well-being. The strategies are stronger when supported at multiple levels by parents, families, and communities, according to the CDC.

If you or someone you know feels the need to speak with a mental health professional, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.

Ithaca Town Hall: Youth Mental Health & Wellness

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Our young people often put on a good face. But when they are anonymously surveyed about how they’re doing, their responses are concerning. In fact, more than one-third of middle and high school students in Tompkins County say they feel depressed or sad on most days and that “sometimes I think life is not worth it.”

“Our youth are struggling,” said town hall organizer Tiffany Bloss

A community town hall will be held at the Tompkins County Public Library on Saturday October 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to throw light on the mental health challenges many of our young people are experiencing.

“Youth Mental Health & Wellness Town Hall,” organized and hosted by the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition, will provide information on how to support the well-being of our youth and hear testimonies from young community members themselves.

The event, part of the United in Kindness series of events in Tompkins County, will feature short Ted Talk-style presentations with an opportunity for Q&A with like local mental health leaders.

Speakers include Melanie Little, director of Training and Peer Education at the Mental Health Association of Tompkins County; Tiffany Bloss, executive director of Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County; and Pat Breux, former director of School and Youth Initiatives at the Suicide Prevention Center of New York.

Shawn Goodman, an author and psychologist in the Ithaca Central School District, will share anecdotes from his new book, How to Survive Your Parents.

Organizer Tiffany Bloss, executive director of the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County, said she encouraged youth as well as their caregivers to attend.

“This is such an important topic for our community. Our youth are struggling. There are so many pressures in their lives that other generations did not have to deal with: heightened academic standards, family pressures, compromised school safety, a global pandemic, and the ever-present social media. At the town hall, we will be discussing all of these topics and more,” Bloss said.

Bloss emphasized the critical importance of tending to mental health in youth.

“Mental health is vital to the overall health and well-being in a person’s life. The adolescent years are crucial for developing social and emotional habits that build a foundation for mental well-being. These include good sleeping habits, regular movement of the body, self-care routines, developing problem-solving and interpersonal skills, and learning to manage emotions. Protective and supportive environments within the family, at school and in the wider community are important to a youth’s mental health,” Bloss said.

Town hall attendees are encouraged to register (not mandatory) at https://bit.ly/4gsfGr6.

The Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition is comprised of health agencies, community organizations, and individual members who share a determination to prevent suicide deaths in our community. It is a collective of volunteers that strives for diverse and inclusive representation and encourages collaboration for achieving goals.

The coalition’s goals include:

Improving the quality and enhance the use of data sources and systems for suicide prevention in Tompkins County;

Advancing quality improvement for suicide care in all Tompkins County healthcare and behavioral health settings;

Reducing suicide attempts in the youth population, including students attending colleges in Tompkins County;

Reducing access to lethal means for suicide within high-risk demographic populations as determined by national, state, and local data;

And advocating for policies and practices designed to prevent suicides in the community.

“United in Kindness” Is Here!

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A program of 12 events promoting kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and support is on tap for this year’s United in Kindness series in Tompkins County.

The Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task coordinates the series every October to mark National Bullying Prevention Month and National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

“United in Kindness is a wonderful collaboration of professionals and community members who care about the well-being of kids in our community. We’re happy to partner in this effort, as bolstering kids’ mental wellness is central to our mission,” said Libby Demarest, director of Community Engagement at Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca.

One of the highlights this year is “I Wish You Knew,” where youth ages 5-21 are invited to create and submit artworks about themselves or about bullying in general. The artworks will be featured in an exhibition from October 21 to November 6 at the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County’s Outreach, Education and Training Center in Center Ithaca on the Commons. There will be a Gallery Night Reception on November 1 from 5-8 p.m.

Another highlight is a Youth Mental Health & Wellness Town Hall taking place on October 5 at the Tompkins County Public Library. Hosted by the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition, the event will feature expert presentations on youth mental health and suicide prevention.

Once again, the series includes “Huddle Together for Mental Health,” where home sports games between October 2–12 at area high schools will be branded as mental health games accompanied by mental health presentations from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes.

Dryden Central School District will celebrate Unity Day on October 16 to mark National Bullying Prevention Month. Activities include: wearing orange t-shirts signifying unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion; a Random Acts of Kindness challenge; creating a kindness quilt; and more.

There will be two online events of special interest to parents and school staff on October 10.

The Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention will give a presentation, “Promoting Social-Emotional Strengths in Youth.” Hosted by Family & Children’s Service, the presentation will focus on how social-emotional skills promote accomplishment, satisfying relationships, stress coping, and social and academic development.

NAMI Finger Lakes will give a presentation called “Ending the Silence,” which provides vital information about mental health conditions, including warning signs, facts and statistics, and strategies for talking with children.

For more information about bullying and the Task Force, go to: https://thesophiefund.org/bullying/.

United in Kindness 2024 Full Schedule

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Free Hugs @ Apple Harvest Festival 9/28 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

@Ithaca Commons

Free Hugs Ithaca and Be Kind Ithaca team up to give away free t-shirts and iconic Be Kind hearts—and actual hugs—to lucky Apple Fest attendees.

Huddle Together for Mental Health 10/2 through 10/12

@Area high schools – Schedule at: www.huddletogether.org.

Home sports events are branded Mental Health Awareness Games, accompanied by National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lake’s “Ending the Silence” presentations for students, staff, and parents.

Youth Mental Health & Wellness Town Hall 10/5 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

@Tompkins County Public Library-Borg Warner Room

Community town hall with expert presentations on youth mental health and suicide prevention. Hosted by the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition. To register (not mandatory): https://app.dvforms.net/api/dv/6y0pzl

Keen on Kindness Day at The Nook!  10/7 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

@Family Reading Partnership @ Shops at Ithaca Mall

Story time and book giveaway celebrating migrating families at 10:15am or 5:15pm; art projects and fun activities throughout the day.

Promoting Social-Emotional Strengths in Youth 10/10 12 Noon–1 p.m.

Online via Zoom — Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/promoting-social-emotional-strengths-through-assessment-and-intervention-tickets-1026935791597

Presentation on how social-emotional skills promote accomplishment, satisfying relationships, stress coping, and social and academic development. From the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, hosted by Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca.

“Ending the Silence” for Parents 10/10 7:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Online via Zoom — Register: https://go.namifingerlakes.org/event-registration-32024-6231-2235

NAMI Finger Lakes presentation on mental health for parents, faculty, and staff, and open to all community members. 

“I Wish You Knew” 10/11 through 11/6

@Mental Health Association Outreach, Education and Training Center @ Center Ithaca on the Commons.  

Tompkins County youth ages 5-21 are invited to create and submit artworks by 10/11 deadline. Artworks will be featured in an exhibition from 10/21–11/6. Gallery Night Reception 11/1 5-8pm. Submission Info and Registration: https://www.mhaedu.org/youth-art-show-2024

Stories of Kindness and Resilience 10/13 1 p.m.­­–2 p.m.

@Buffalo Street Books 215 N. Cayuga Street

Storytime for children accompanied by a caregiver and all who love children’s books hosted by the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County.

Unity Day for Bullying Prevention Month 10/16 All Day

@Dryden Central School District schools

Activities include: wearing orange t-shirts signifying unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion; a Random Acts of Kindness challenge; creating a kindness quilt; and more.

#PurpleThursday 10/17 All Day

Throughout the community

The Advocacy Center of Tompkins County encourages everyone to wear purple on the national day of support for families impacted by domestic violence letting survivors know they are not alone. Email info@actompkins.org to receive a purple ribbon observing National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest 10/19 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

@Bernie Milton Pavilion in Ithaca Commons

Fun event including live music and information tables to raise awareness about mental health organized by The Sophie Fund. Submissions from 10a.m.–12 Noon; Info: https://thesophiefund.org/cupcake-contest/

Groomed—A Play 11/1 7 p.m.–9 p.m.

@Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) 301 W. Court Street in Ithaca—free admission

UK playwright Patrick Sandford performs his autobiographical award-winning play about childhood sexual abuse. Brilliantly performed, heartbreaking, hopeful, truth-telling that invites us all to talk. (Not graphic, PG-13.) Audience Q&A follows. Sponsored by GIAC and the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County.

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