Community Interventions
From the Director:
The Community Intervention Program (CIP)
The UMass Community Intervention Program for Serious Mental Illness (CIP-SMI) is the community outreach program of UMass Mind that stands inclusive of all individuals with mental health challenges and their allies.
The purpose of CIP is to address unmet needs of individuals living with serious mental illness by focusing on the social determinants of health that impact their real life functioning in the community. The mission of the CIP initiative is for the creation of a more mindful Worcester by providing various participation opportunities for everyone invested in the mental wellness of our community. We stay committed to the local Worcester and central Massachusetts community in which we live and work and appreciate the diversity of voices from all our community members.
CIP currently consists of the following five modules:
The Lifestyle as Medicine module is for individuals to establish healthy lifestyle changes via recovery and support-based discussions and activities with a focus on making healthy food choices and increasing physical activity.
(The picture above features some of the participant-chefs at one of our seasonal cooking workshops we hosted at the Genesis Club in Worcester.)
The Arts and Music module is for individuals to harness and express their creative abilities and talents while offering a platform for social interaction via various arts or music therapy groups.
(The picture above depicts the wonderful works of art produced by the participants of our guided-imagery paint therapy event at Community Healthlink in Worcester.)
The Early Detection and Intervention module presents an opportunity for young individuals exhibiting early signs of psychosis or other mental health conditions to collaborate with mental health care providers to improve access to treatment options.
(The photo above was taken at an education event we hosted at Assumption College for student counselors from local colleges on the importance of early psychosis detection and screening.)
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion module shares stories of individuals coping with mental illness that feature different cultural and lifestyle perspectives. It seeks to help individuals belonging to or identifying with various demographics receive culturally appropriate mental and physical health care.
(The above photo was an instagram post from @projectharmonious, a program designed to share stories and encourage mental health seeking behaviors in individuals of Chinese heritage.)
The Community Education and Support Module presents an opportunity for individuals living with mental illness and their families to receive education and support in areas including mental health, self-care, and community integration.
We understand that individuals with mental illness and their family members are facing serious and intensified mental, physical, and social health challenges due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Community health workers (especially staff working in supportive residential facilities) are at times the only point of contact for social and emotional support. Fatigue, stress, and workplace burnout have become a new normal. As such, the UMass Mind Community Intervention Program has launched a virtual education and support program for individuals with serious mental illness, their families members, and community health workers.
Please go to our COVID-19 Support and Education page (umassmed.edu/covid19-SMI-support-education/). There you can find more information about our support program by clicking on the tabs along the top. In addition, you can find important resources and news updates that will help you and your family stay safe during this ongoing pandemic.
Click here for a brochure on our community initiatives!
