Griffin Hospital in Derby to host free talk on diabetes, fall risk

Griffin Hospital will host a discussion Feb. 11 on diabetes and fall risk./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free discussion on diabetes and fall risk at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the hospital.

Studies have shown that older adults diagnosed with diabetes have a higher risk of falling and fall more often. They are also more likely to suffer a serious injury from a fall, including a broken hip.

Lifeline Program Coordinator at Griffin Hospital Vanessa Shimer will talk about why individuals diagnosed with diabetes are at a higher fall risk and what they can do to help protect themselves from debilitating fall injuries.

No registration is required. 

For more information, call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September-June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend. 

The support group is part of Griffin’s ongoing effort to transform health care by not only treating illness, but also helping people stay healthy. 

Griffin actively empowers individuals to play an active role in their health and well being by providing them with information, tools and support to prevent, or proactively manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression and stress.

The hospital is at 130 Division St.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

PCRC in Derby offers program to help teens make good choices

DERBY - Is your teen lonely? Depressed? Anxious? Seem worried or confused? 

PCRC offers an adolescent program that can help you and your teen.
Today’s Choices is an adolescent program that helps youth understand the importance of the choices they make every day, and how those choices result in opportunities as well as consequences. 

Today’s Choices also helps parents learn about adolescent struggles, how parents’ behavior impacts the choices their children make, how to improve communication with their children, and how to help their children make more effective choices.

“We are pleased to be able to provide this service to adolescents in the community who may be struggling with any substance related issues.  
"At PCRC our hope is to bring more light to these issues and be a support for teens, parents and families,” said Sarah Beard, Director of Clinical Services at PCRC.

The program addresses at-risk behaviors, anxiety and depression, substance use, school performance, juvenile justice issues, social/peer problems, family relationships and problematic decision-making. 

Today’s Choices components include:

•  Comprehensive risk assessment

•  Individual youth sessions

•  Group youth sessions

•  Parent sessions

•  Family sessions

•  Psychiatric services

•  Toxicology screens

“Today’s choices focuses on all aspects of adolescent emotional development, helping teens acquire a core set of skills aimed to enhance the way the manage difficult situations,” said Dr. Sandra E. Gomez Luna, Medical Director, BHcare/PCRC. “Through the completion of the program, teens will be more prepared to make effective choices to guide them in their discovery of future successes.” 

A division of BHcare

PCRC, a division of BHcare, provides hope and help for children, adolescents, teens, and families struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. 

Visit www.bhcare.org for more information.

This is a press release from BHcare.

Valley musical duo to donate portion of CD proceeds to local nonprofit

Charity helps those suffering from depression, addiction

In December Passing Strange, a band featuring Anthony Paolucci and Seymour resident Kate Mirabella, released an album, The Water and the Woods. 

You can read a story in Voices about the musical duo here.


*Sharing this information from the Facebook page of Lizzie's Corner Consignment and Gifts. The CD is available for purchase at the shop, 36 Bank St., Seymour.

Support group at Griffin Hospital in Derby to host talk on diabetes and depression

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host a free talk about diabetes and depression at 6:30 p.m. June 14 at Griffin Hospital’s Dining Room, 130 Division St.

Teresa Spencer, RN, will present “Diabetes & Depression: Beating the Blues!” 
The talk will explore how having a chronic condition, such as diabetes, can lead to depression, but there may be other causes of depression as well. 

Depression can also make it more difficult to manage diabetes.
Spencer specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health at St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health. The presentation will explore causes of depression and talk about how to "Beat the Blues!"

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges and day-to-day dietary concerns. 
Any individuals with diabetes and their families are welcome to attend. 
No registration is required.

For more information, call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host talk on positive psychology

Griffin Hospital will host a free presentation March 23 about positive thinking./ Submitted photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., will host a free presentation about positive thinking and how it can help individuals cope with life stressors and symptoms of depression at 6 p.m. March 23.

Deborah Ranilla, LCSW, and Emily Medina, LCSW, of the hospital’s Outpatient Psychiatry Department will host “Positive Psychology,” a free discussion on how gratitude, kindness, optimism, self-compassion, forgiveness, and other similar topics can improve well-being and help people live happier and more fulfilling lives.

This talk is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U Talks, a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics.

To reserve your spot or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit griffinhealth.org/events.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.