Editor's note: Mental Health Musings (MHM) will focus on community resources and stories throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The New York Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) and the University at Buffalo’s Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care partner up this month to offer three virtual office hours for frontline workers to follow up on their partnership last year. 

The COVID-19 negatively impacted four out of 10 U.S. adults' mental health, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. It also exasperated the opioid epidemic in Western New York. Both of those combined exasperated the need for support for frontline workers in addiction and substance treatment. 

There are three sessions and they will focus on hope, resilience, and continued self-care for those in the addiction workforce. 

The office hours will focus on three groups within the addiction workforce: peers, treatment and prevention staff, and program leaders and administrators.

Institute on Trauma licensed mental health providers, Sue Green, LCSW, and Samantha Koury, LMSW, will conduct the office hours. 

The office hours are free, but pre-registration is required. 

Peers, April 14 from 12-1 p.m. 

Registration here.

Treatment and Prevention Staff, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Registration here. 

Program Administrators and Leadership, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Registration here.