News
December 9, 2025Mental Health Needs Continue to Surge: JFS Center for Counseling & Resilience is Now Open
Since the pandemic, mental health challenges have risen at an unprecedented rate, reshaping the needs of individuals, families, and organizations across the country. What began as a global health emergency has evolved into a long-term mental health crisis, driven by prolonged uncertainty, social isolation, disrupted routines, economic stress, grief, and limited access to in-person mental health services.
While the mental health crisis didn’t originate with COVID, the pandemic acted as a powerful accelerant—magnifying existing issues and creating new ones. Anxiety, depression, and stress-related conditions climbed sharply for people of all ages as communities struggled with disruption, loss, and rapid change. The ripple effects continue to impact workplaces, schools, and healthcare systems today.
One truth has become clear: human connection is essential to emotional and psychological well-being. After years of remote work and reduced social contact, people are seeking authentic interpersonal interaction more than ever. This shift has reinforced the value of in-person counseling, where face-to-face support, body language cues, and the relational presence of a trained clinician can play a transformative role in healing. Telehealth care remains an important option for accessibility—but for many, in-person engagement offers connection, accountability, and depth that digital platforms cannot fully replicate.
Recognizing the critical need for in-person interaction, Jewish Family Services has opened the JFS Center for Counseling & Resilience at 184 Washington Ave. Ext. in Albany to provide a safe and supportive setting for individual, couples, family, and group therapy.
The Center received significant financing from: a 2024 $250,000 Local Community Assistance Program (LoCAP) Grant sponsored by State Senator Neil Breslin, a $100,000 non-profit grant from Empire State Development, and $25,000 grants each from Senator Patricia Fahy and Assemblymember Phil Steck to bolster mental health programs and services. In addition, JFS has received support from several foundations including the Massry Family Foundation, the Neil and Jane Golub Foundation, and The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.
“Meeting today’s mental health needs requires resilience-building, both individually and organizationally. Resilience is not about avoiding challenges; it is about equipping people with the tools, confidence, and support systems to navigate them. Today, this means helping individuals strengthen coping strategies to regain a sense of stability and control,” said Jane B. Ginsburg, JFS president & CEO.
“This renovation would not have been possible without the support of Jewish Federation of NENY whose leaders support our physical expansion and have laid the groundwork for expansion of our core support services,” said Garry R. Sanders, JFS Board chair.
“Jewish Family Services continues to step up and serve our communities at a time it’s needed most,” said Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany). “Since COVID, New York’s mental health crisis has only worsened, and access to mental health services remains a barrier for too many Capital Region residents who are struggling. I’m proud to have secured $25,000 to help support the new JFS Center for Counseling & Resilience and I look forward to seeing it serve our neighbors in need. Thank you to JFS for continuing to address the growing mental health crisis in our communities and for providing a safe, nurturing space for our friends and family to build resilience and heal.”
JFS trained clinicians assist children, teens, and adults with many issues, including anxiety and depression, school stress and bullying, grief and loss, identity and self-esteem, trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic illness, disordered eating, and more. JFS welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, and religions.
JFS is part of the following insurance networks: Aetna, Anthem, Beacon Health Options, BlueCross BlueShield, CDPHP, CDPHP Medicare/Medicaid, Emblem, Emblem Health HMO, Empire Plan (NYSHIP), GHI, Highmark/BSNENY, MVP, MVP Medicare/Medicaid, and Medicare.
Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Sundays by appointment. For more information, call 518-482-8856, option 0 or visit jfsneny.org.
