Mental Health Matters Day

The image represents a word cloud activity participants had the chance to engage in for the event.
Participants were asked, “What is one word that comes to mind when thinking about mental health advocacy?”

Recorded Sessions Now Available

From Classroom to Community: Creating and Sustaining Partnerships to Support and Positively Impact Student Mental Health
Schools are a key component not only to student success, health and vitality but also to their communities. New resources, funding sources and innovations in service delivery present opportunities for schools, community organizations and behavioral and mental health providers to collaborate and engage in ways that creatively and effectively meet the mental health needs facing our students today. Leaders from a variety of roles from across New York discussed the challenges and strategies of successful school/community partnerships.
Moderator: Brandon Beachamp, MHANYS Director of School Mental Health Resource & Training Center
Panelists:

Andrew Ecker, Coordinator of the Guidance & Child Study Center, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES
Christopher Van Houten, Psychologist, Malone CSD; President-Elect, NY Assoc. of School Psychologists
Flora Covey, Director of Personnel Development, South Glens Falls CSD
Peg Barrett, LCSW, MHA of Western NY; Past President & Board Member, NYS School Social Workers Assoc.

WATCH HERE

Advancing College Mental Health Public Policy
Learn how MHANYS is responding to a college mental health crisis that has been growing for years and has recently been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. Hear the public policy recommendations that MHANYS is calling for in its white paper on mental health and higher education. Representatives from colleges react and offer their perspective.
Moderator: John Richter, MHANYS Director of Public Policy
Panelists:

Dr. Cathleen McColgin, Ph.D, President, Herkimer College
Dr. Nate T. Pruitt, Licensed Psychologist, Director of Counseling Center, Siena College
Kate Kaufman Burns, MSW, LCSW-R, Director of Health Promotion, Siena College

WATCH HERE

Advancing Family and Community Wellbeing: Healing Centered Engagement
When we take on the perspective of a whole-person approach to well-being, and address factors that constitute whole-person, family and community health, the vision is clear: community well-being is not in isolation of our own health and wellness and vice versa. This conversation will introduce the role of healing centered engagement: a trauma informed response that focuses not only on individual trauma, but addresses the health and function of the community. Panelists shared grassroots advocacy efforts for advancing healthy communities with an emphasis on MHANYS CarePath™ – a program offering a holistic approach in supporting the health and wellbeing of families and their communities.
Moderator: Deborah Faust, MHANYS Director of Family Engagement & Support
Panelists:

Deborah Williams, Community Coaching Advocate
Dennis Mosley, Albany Public Defender’s Office Mitigation Specialist
Julika Von Stackleberg, Family & Community Resilience Educator

WATCH HERE

988: Getting Ready for Statewide Implementation in July
Join MHANYS as we have a discussion with stakeholders about what the landscape will look like for crisis services for behavioral health after the implementation of 988 in July, 2022. Discussion points included training needs of regional 988 workers; links to mobile crisis teams and Crisis Stabilization Centers and points of access to community providers.
Moderator: Glenn Liebman, MHANYS CEO
Panelists:

Cheryl Giarrusso, Division Director, Crisis Services Contact Community Services
Denise Balzer, Director of Crisis Services at NYS Office of Mental Health
Laura Evans, Director of National and State Policy Vibrant Emotional Health

WATCH HERE

MHANYS Legislative Policy Briefing
Join MHANYS CEO and Public Policy Director as they provide an overview of key mental health legislative initiatives for 2022. A broad-base of mental health policy issues was discussed with an emphasis on preparing advocates to make informed arguments with state legislators.

Speakers included:

Anna M. Kaplan, State Senator
Samra G. Brouk, State Senator
Ann Marie T. Sullivan M.D., Office of Mental Health Commissioner
Chinazo O. Cunningham, M.D., Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner

WATCH HERE

Enhancing Workplace Mental Health
Learn how MHANYS is influencing public policy to bring mental health awareness and resources to New York’s places of employment.

WATCH HERE