Leadership Matters
VUCA. This acronym, first coined by the military, refers to a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. In a VUCA world, we count on and look to leaders for direction and guidance, especially in times of crisis. Where are these leaders now, and what does it mean to
Conversations on Freedom
As the sun goes down tomorrow, the Jewish holiday of Passover begins, and it begins with a story. The story of the exodus of the Israelites from the land Egypt. From slavery to freedom. Essential to Passover is the retelling of the story of the exodus as if it we,
A Year of COVID by Broadway
Exactly one year ago, I picked up my daughter from her university apartment in Baltimore to drive to NYC, pick up her twin brother, and depart the city to wait out the passing of the novel coronavirus. Exactly one year ago, Broadway went dark for what was to be a
Words Matter
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about hope. I referenced multiple challenges in this world right now that are sparring with hope, including “riots in Chicago.” I hit submit. Within moments I had a message from a trusted colleague who pointed out my poor word choice. She had already
If French Fries are Wrong…
If french fries are wrong, I don’t want to be right. Printed on the side of a beach bag in a store window, this line made me laugh. The truth is I love french fries. Actually I am good with potatoes in every form – baked, mashed or made into
Why Now?
George Floyd was killed on 25 May 2020. His death has triggered protests around the country, indeed, around the world. But racism and abuse of power are not new. So what is it about this particular moment? What accounts for the rage – and outrage – now? “Why now?” is the
Among the Most Vulnerable in Our Communities
Much has been written about the stress on communities wrought by COVID-19. From everyday social isolation to postponing weddings and graduations to conducting virtual Passover Seders, Easter Egg hunts, and even funerals. In contrast, we have heard little from or about the communities of individuals with serious mental illness during
Mental Health on the Frontlines of COVID-19
My sister, Virginia, is a surgeon. As a breed, surgeons aren’t sissies. And that’s true for Virginia, too. She was a resident at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village, NYC during the peak of the AIDS epidemic. She has cared for and continues to care for hundreds of first responders
Mental Health and Climate Change
Last Friday, several members of our Global Mental Health Programs joined an estimated 300,000 people to participate in the Global Climate Strike in Foley Square. One of over 2,500 events held in over 163 countries on all seven continents. Over 4 million people participated in The Global Climate Strikes around
Know My Name
Trigger warning: sexual assault, sexual abuse, PTSD, suicide Chanel Miller, the victim of the now-infamous sexual assault case at Stanford University in 2015, has decided to share her name. She was known as Emily Doe when she read her searing victim impact statement in court, and in newspapers she was called ‘unconscious
I Thought I Would Never Run Again
A few years ago, I was standing in Central Park admiring the fall leaves. It was one of those lyrical moments of oneness with nature. Until our dog, whose leash I was holding, decided that she would do her own communing with nature by chasing yet another squirrel. She went
The Long Shadow of Trauma
The news has been filled with grief and confusion emanating from the recent suicides of a father of a child who was killed in the Sandy Hook shootings and two Parkland students. These individuals were survivors of the school massacres that occurred on 14 December 2012 and 18 February 2018,
