Mental Health Spotlight

Shining a light on community needs

JFCS is here to help with our introduction of Mental Health Spotlight. Its purpose? To shine a light on areas where all people – children through older adults, including self-identified disabled members of our community – struggle and can seek help.

• • Boosting social skills and navigating group dynamics, guided by professionals
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  • We are here to help you shore up your resiliency against loneliness and isolation 

• • Some of our new workshop-style groups also are curated for those wanting to learn how to help their friends and loved ones through challenging times 

Mental Health Spotlight provides group-session and workshop options in the style of both Community Connection and our grief-processing group, Walking Beside You. 

JFCS’ Mental Health Spotlight is not one-on-one therapy. Rather, you can attend simply to be in community, dabble to see if this format works for you and gain access to JFCS’ robust resources list, all in a safe online space. 

In keeping with JFCS’ focus on inclusion, Mental Health Spotlight also provides access to a therapist on a sliding scale, as well as resources one may need outside JFCS’ areas of expertise.

JFCS is engaged with B’nai B’rith Camp about shining a spotlight specifically on children and their increased mental-health needs during the pandemic. Both organizations have seen an increase in anxiety among and a need to support children in processing these changing times.

In partnership with the Eastside Jewish Commons, JFCS is planning a Mental Health Spotlight hybrid option for an in-person experience with separate engagement opportunities for children. 

But until the time comes where society opens up a little more, we invite you to log in and lean on Mental Health Spotlight sessions and workshops. Our expanded mental-health services may do wonders for your own mental health or for that of your loved ones. 

We look forward to hearing from you. Mental Health Spotlight will evolve; please continue to check back for updates to opportunities and schedule. For more information, contact Douglass Ruth, LCSW, CCTP, our Clinical Director, at 503-226-7079, ext. 124, or by email at douglassruth@jfcs-portland.org.

Our ongoing, drop-in groups:

Community Connection

Join JFCS for weekly conversations on Zoom: It is a space for anyone in the community to connect with others and share what’s on their mind.

Grief Connection

Grief affects every part of our lives and can be a lonely road to travel. Join us for our monthly grief-processing group for adults. In our virtual sessions, we will have the opportunity to share our own experiences with grief, connect with others, and learn strategies for moving through loss. Click here to learn more.

Cancer Support Group

Community is important. Cancer is lonely. Jewish Family & Child Service has combined these two truths to create this support group open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis. Click here to learn more or to register.

Disability Mental Health Spotlight

Join our Counseling and Disability Support Services programs for an ongoing series of mental health groups for members of the disabled community. We will be discussing strategies for coping with anxiety.

All groups meet on Zoom. Zoom links provided below.

Mental Health Spotlight is possible with significant support from The Holzman Foundation.