Voices of the Community

Edgewood Center for Children and Families

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Episode notes

“We are very committed to having honest, open conversations about mental health and that there is nothing to be ashamed about having that discussion or saying that you need help” - Gregg Biggs

Our featured voices in this episode are Justine Underhill the Chief Program Officer and Gregg Biggs the Director of Advancement from Edgewood Center for Children and Families. The harm on our mental health from the covid-19 pandemic has been the most acute on our children, teenagers and young adults. School closures and enforced social distancing has added to the uncertainty, social isolation, and parental angst along with cutting off many teens and young adults from most of their psychological supports. This has put our children at a much higher risk of developing or amplifying their anxiety and depression. Researchers at Harvard, Northeastern, Rutgers and Northwestern universities conducted eight large survey rounds across all US states from April to October of 2020 and found that by October of 2020 over 36 percent of young adults had suicidal thoughts compared to just 32 percent in May of 2020 when the study started. These studies reinforce the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s August 2020 report that 25 percent of young people from 18 to 24 contemplated suicide in July of 2020 because of the pandemic driven lockdowns. 

As our youth, families and community struggle with these mental health realities, we wanted to feature the voices of Justine Underhill the Chief Program Officer and Gregg Biggs the Director of Advancement from one of the legacy social service agencies in San Francisco that has been at the center of providing mental health services to our youth Edgewood Center for Children and Families.