From the Lynn Public Health Department: The Lynn Public Health Department distributes a monthly newsletter with health-related information for the City of Lynn. For more information and questions you can call the Public Health Department at 781-598-4000 extension 6712.

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October Health Theme: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Taking place each year from October 1st to October 31st, serving as a reminder the importance of early detection and supporting those who have been affected by breast cancer. 

• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S.
• There are over 4 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
• 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
• This year, approximately 382,640 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• ~321,910 with invasive breast cancer 
• ~60,730 with non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer
• This year, approximately 2,670 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the U.S.
• When diagnosed early, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is over 99%

This information is provided by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

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“The function of protecting and developing health must rank even above that of restoring it when it is impaired.”

– Hippocrates

 November Health Themes: Domestic World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) & National Diabetes Month

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Youth Corner 

Youth Safety and Opportunity Collaborative (Y-SOC)

This month, our Strategic Advisor for Youth Initiatives, Rosii Floreak, and Grants and Youth Specialist, Damianny Garrido, facilitated listening sessions at the Middle School Hub and Teen Drop-in Center. The sessions included small discussion groups led by partner community organizations, members of the Youth and Adolescent Taskforce, Lynn Public Schools and Mayor’s Office, focused on the programs, changes, and spaces that youth feel will make the city safer and create opportunities. What we learn will be used to inform the Y-SOC’s work for the next year. For more information about City Hall’s efforts to engage youth, visit the Y-SOC page and Youth and Adolescent Taskforce page.

Lynn’s Youth-Led Mental Health Committee 

In November, Lynn’s Youth-Led Mental Health funds will also support a Youth “Food is Medicine” Workshop in collaboration with the Phoenix Food Hub. This interactive workshop will teach young people the connection between nutrition and mental health, teach youth how to read and understand nutrition labels, and feature a cooking demonstration. Participants will also receive free, healthy snacks. 

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

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Transportation 

From funding received through the Lynn Disability Commission and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Housing Choice (EOHLC) grant, the City of Lynn will be creating an ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan to help ensure that all City programs and services are accessible to residents and visitors with disabilities. Public input is an essential part of this effort. We would like to hear your ideas, experiences, and concerns regarding the accessibility of City programs, services, and facilities. The survey will be open until the end of November. Please take a few minutes to respond to this survey using the link below.

Funding from Phase I through the Lynn Disability Commission includes surveys, website, written rules/regulations and municipal buildings. In addition, the city has received additional funding from MA EOHLC to complete Phase II which will expand it to include all municipal parks, parking lots, and playgrounds.

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click here for Public Health Internship OPPORTUNITIES

Interested in interning with us? We accept internship applications on a rolling basis. 

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SUD Grants and Opioid Working Group Updates

Mass Call 3B 

As part of the Mass Call 3B grant, Lynn Public Schools will be administering the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to all middle and high school students the week of November 9th . The survey is anonymous, and we encourage students to answer as honestly as possible. Their responses will help us better understand the needs of our youth and identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For any question about YRBS, please reach out to Colleen Peterson, Assistant Director of Health and Physical Education at mcnultyc@lynnschools.org.

We also continue to offer Teen Mental Health First Aid trainings. Please feel free to reach out to lynnpublichealth@lynnma.gov if you’re interested.

Prevention in Early Childhood 

The coalition will be hosting a three-part Community of Practice (CoP) workshop with Brazelton Touchpoints beginning in December. A CoP is a group of individuals who share a common interest or concern, such as substance use, and come together to exchange experiences, share best practices, and develop new knowledge to strengthen their work through the Brazelton Touchpoints approach. The first session will take place virtually on December 4th. This three-part series will include:

1. Kickoff Workshop: A two-hour introductory session.
2. Community of Practice Development: Three sessions lasting approximately 1.5–2 hours each, including the facilitation of an initial CoP.
3. Reflective Practice: Four one-hour sessions focused on reflection and continued learning.

If you or your organization are interested in participating, please contact Wendy Kent at wendypkent57@gmail.com.

Opioid Working Group 

Vending machine highlights: (items vended)

Sexual health Kit – 27
Feminine care – 21
Narcan Kit – 32
Hygiene Kit – 65
Wound Care – 31

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CALM Team Updates

The Lynn Calm Team continues to support Lynn residents by responding to calls involving nonviolent conflicts, public health concerns, mental and behavioral health challenges, and other community needs. Throughout October, Calm played a key role in supporting the downtown area in response to the Mayor’s executive order, as the city faced overlapping challenges related to homelessness, substance use disorder, and mental health.

The team engaged with residents and community organizations to provide support, connect individuals with resources, and facilitate communication with people experiencing housing insecurity.

Calm also continued its weekly downtown cleanup campaign in collaboration with Lynn Shelter Association (LSA) staff and residents. These efforts helped maintain a clean downtown environment and promote a greater sense of safety through compassionate, care-oriented engagement.

Beyond these efforts, Calm remains committed to providing care-oriented support to all Lynn residents. The team continues to respond to neighborhood disputes, assist individuals experiencing mental health challenges, and support older adults through collaboration with community partners.

📞 For help, call: 781-905-CALM (2256)
🌐 For more information: www.lynncalmteam.org

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Community Health Inclusion Index (CHII) Grant Press Release

The Lynn Disability community has pinpointed three critical focus areas for our immediate inclusion solutions: transportation options, making community events accessible, and upgrading accessibility at City Hall for residents conducting daily business.

To address some of these critical focus areas, we’ve provided live-captioning and translation services at our Lynn Board of Health meetings via Boostlingo, rolled out our portable Mobi-Mats at seasonal outdoor events to create accessible pathways, and launced our iPad lending program equipped with applications designed to assist residents with disabilities such as hearing and sight when conducting city hall business.

Learn more about these programs and how to access them by downloading the press releases with the links below:

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EPI’s Corner 

If you or someone you know would like to receive a flu vaccination and/or is homebound, please call or email the Lynn Public Health Community Health Resource Room to schedule an appointment: 

Phone: 781-586-6719
Email: lynnpublichealth@lynnma.gov

Respiratory Illness season is upon us. Here are some tips from the MA Department of Public Health (DPH):

• Get vaccinated
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not not available
• Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue or your inner elbow
• Stay at home if you are symptomatic

Congratulations to our Epidemiologist, Erini Kamarinos, on returning to her alma mater to join their Health System Advisory Board Panel at Regis College, which brings together alumni to gather input for the public health programming at the College. 

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Reminder: MassHealth Open Enrollment

Open enrollment for Massachusetts Health Connector plans has begun and runs from October 23, 2026 to January 23, 2027.

Important Dates to Remember:

• October 23, 2026: Open Enrollment begins
• November 23, 2026: Deadline to enroll for coverage starting
  December 1, 2026
• December 23, 2026: Deadline to enroll for coverage starting
  January 1, 2027
• January 23, 2027: Last day of Open Enrollment

Need help with your MassHealth application?

We are offering limited appointment times on Tuesdays with our Certified Application Counselor who can help with insurance enrollment.

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Fall and Winter Resources

Fall is right around the corner!

Visit the link below to learn about respiratory viruses, keeping warm, and our upcoming flu vaccination clinics.