Submitted by the Brain Fitness Foundation
Dr. Suzanne Falla of NYC Health and Hospitals was first struck by the mental health crisis when she noticed an alarming lack of mental health resources for the communities she served across Northern Manhattan and South Bronx. This realization prompted a response from the HHCNYC team committee at Lincoln Hospital South Bronx to unveil the nation’s first pediatric psychiatric emergency room. Shortly after, Dr. Falla extended her efforts to initiate school performance improvement support for school-aged children in Hunts Point South Bronx, where the high school graduation rate was a mere 5%.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already existing mental health crisis across the nation, but it also presented an opportunity for transformation. During this time, Dr. Fallahpour, neuroscientist, clinical psychologist, and the founder of Brain Resource Center in New York City, with interests in music and the arts, befriended Gary Sussman, his sculpture instructor at the Art Student League of New York. Sussman invited Dr. Fallahpour and Dr. Falla to visit Hoosick Falls, where he resided.
Amidst the ongoing pandemic, Dr. Fallahpour and Dr. Falla spent a significant amount of time in the Upstate NY and Vermont community and quickly discovered the untapped potential for expanding their pro bono work. Motivated by the prevailing mental health needs, coupled with limited access to advanced treatments, the two established a non-profit organization, Brain Fitness Foundation INC (BFF), in September 2021, with a mission of providing underserved communities with free, advanced mental health treatments.
During the initial stages of developing the non-profit structure, a church building in Hoosick Falls became available for sale. The space not only provided ample room to serve the community, but its acoustics proved ideal for incorporating music into their treatment programs. Dr. Falla and Dr. Fallahpour purchased the building and by fall 2022 a Brain Fitness Foundation satellite location was established.
Since its inception, BFF has been exclusively self-funded by Dr. Fallahpour and Dr. Falla. The organization has operated on a small scale, but to reach more members of the community and eventually additional populations across the state, they have begun efforts to fund the organization through grants, fundraising events, corporate partners, and individual donors. With these resources, BFF will be able to expand its reach and make a life-changing impact on countless individuals in need of transformative mental health care.
For more information about programs, visit their website at www.brainfitness.com.
