Mel Wilson is a senior policy adviser for the NASW national office:
‘Temporarily’ Not Good Enough: Corporate America Called to End Political Giving Once and for All
Common Dreams
Mel Wilson, senior policy adviser at the National Association of Social Workers, echoed Gilbert. “Elections belong to the people and their voices must be heard without being drowned out by unrestricted corporate campaign spending,” Wilson said. “Unfettered and secret political contributions by the super-rich,” he added, “contradicts the national ethos that ability to vote is the great equalizer between the average man and the financially powerful.”

Pam Roberts is a member:
FOX5 EXPERTS: Las Vegas social worker weighs in on student suicide rates
KVVU-TV
Pam Roberts, a licensed clinical social worker, weighed in on the increasing numbers of student suicides in Clark County. In her private practice, she primarily treats children and adolescents who have experienced some form of relational or complex trauma, many of whom also struggle with developmental challenges such as autism. Roberts added perspective to the recent suicide numbers that show 20 Clark County students have taken their lives in 2020.

Timothy Wade is a member:
Police calls regarding mental health continue to rise as pandemic drags on
The Westerly Sun
The department has partnered with several organizations, including a regional partnership with the Providence Center, which provides clinical support to several southern Rhode Island communities, including Richmond, South Kingstown and Narragansett. In addition, the department has obtained grant funding to retain the services of Timothy Wade Jr., a licensed clinical social worker with Gateway Health Care in Charlestown.

Alison Stone is a member:
Feeling a Little Bit On Edge? You’re Probably Dealing With ‘Pandemic Paranoia’—and Trust Us, You’re Not Alone
Parade
Alison Stone, LCSW, a New York-based holistic psychotherapist, adds that as human beings, we rely so much on facial expressions and body language to help us read the room. “Without these opportunities for connection, it can leave us questioning our sense of emotional safety and security.”

Shana Schwartz is a member:
The pandemic is exacerbating a shortage of child therapists
The Philadelphia Inquirer
On top of that, said Shana Schwartz, a licensed clinical social worker in Ardmore, quite a few practitioners are parents themselves and are precluded from taking on new cases because they need to spend time with their own children who are out of school and unsupervised.

Anna Usher is a member:
How To Help Teens And Young Adults Struggling With Mental Health During COVID
The Weekly Post (NC)
Social isolation is particularly difficult for teens, for whom socialization is key to their development and identity.  “Teens are in this really interesting part of their life where they’re wanting to become more independent outside their family unit,” says Anna Usher, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate at Matone Counseling and Testing (formerly Thriveworks Counseling and Coaching).

Kathleen Bar-Tur is a member:
Manage Your Divorce Expectations
The New York Times
Kathleen Bar-Tur, a mediator and licensed clinical social worker on the Upper West Side, said she has several couples who disappeared two or three years ago who have returned during the pandemic, wanting to push forward because they’ve had time to reflect. Although Ms. Bar-Tur has always liked meeting in person, taking the process online has its benefits.

Jennifer Teplin is a member:
Are You Really Sorry? Here’s a Therapist’s 4-Step Checklist To Save Yourself From Over-Apologizing
Well & Good
“While we don’t want to offend individuals and hurt feelings, we’ve become much quicker to apologize for something we didn’t do wrong almost as a space-filler,” says psychotherapist Jennifer Teplin, LCSW. “Individuals also use over-apologizing as a blanket way to ensure they’re in good standing with those around them.”

Chamin Ajjan is a member:
How To Tell If Your Relationship Conflict Is Stemming From Within
Mind Body Green
Feelings often deemed negative, like frustration and anger, in and of themselves are not bad. They’re usually a sign that there’s a need or issue that needs to be addressed. But if you find yourself getting worked up at your partner over minor things time and time again, could it be a sign that the conflict is stemming from within?… To recognize when you might be doing this, therapist Chamin Ajjan, M.S., LCSW, A-CBT, shares a few signs you may be taking out your own problems on your partner.

Elizabeth Beecroft is a member:
What Happens In Your Brain When You Gain Followers Online
Bustle
It can also produce other feelings, though. Psychotherapist Elizabeth Beecroft LCSW, a provider with mental health platform Alma, tells Bustle that if you’re prone to monitoring your follower count, you could be fueling anxiety. “Having an uptick in Instagram followers can create a lot of pressure for the individual to perform or maintain,” she says. “A large following can mean that you have more eyes watching or viewing your account, which can create symptoms of anxiety around wanting to keep that status, posting content that your audience enjoys, or even becoming too invested in your account’s engagement.”

Erin Brandel Dykhuizen is a member:
Escaping the Spiral of the Winter Blues
Community Reporter
It’s no surprise that many of us are not in such great spirits. After all, we are in the thick of winter — the holiday season is over, the thrill of fresh snowfall is gone and the pandemic rages on. Spring feels immeasurably far off, despite the days steadily getting longer. When our mood gets low, it’s natural for us to feel like doing less. When we do less, our mood often gets worse, which in turn makes us want to do even less.