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Mental Health Matters Day

A tradition for nearly three decades, advocates visit Albany to rally support for critical investments and programs that support mental health and suicide prevention in communities across New York State.

Visit our Legislative Action Community (LAC) to learn about the issues and take action.

  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
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  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
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  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
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  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
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  • Mental Health Matters Day 2025
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2025 Mental Health Matters Day

Presenters
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan, MD
New York State Education Department Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy Jeffrey Matteson
Senator Samra Brouk, Chair of Mental Health Committee
Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Chair of Alcoholism & Substance Use Disorders Committee
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, Chair of Mental Health
Assemblymember Anna Kelles, PhD
Jacob Wolmetz, Youth Representative, Junior at Hauppauge High School (Northwell Health – Cohen Strong Mental Health)
Cohen Miles-Rath, Keynote Speaker
Jim Allard, Sheriff of Steuben County
Officer George Hill

School/College Groups
Cairo-Durham
Catskill Central School District
Greenville Central School District
Northwell – Cohen Strong Mental Health
Pelham Together
Poughkeepsie School District
Siena College

MHANYS Affiliates
Association for Mental Health & Wellness
Mental Health Advocates of Western New York
Mental Health Association of Genesee & Orleans Counties
Mental Health Association of Jefferson County
MHA in Fulton & Montgomery Counties
MHA in Orange County
MHA in Putnam County
MHA in Ulster County
MHA of Dutchess County
MHA of Nassau County
Vibrant

First Responders
New York National Guard
Columbia Sheriff’s Office
Firefighters Association of New York State (FASNY)
NYS Sheriffs Institute
Saratoga Springs Police Department
Schenectady County Auxiliary Police OEM
Steuben County Sheriff’s Office
Warren County Sheriff’s Office

Community Providers
AFSP WENY Chapter
Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY)
Council on Alcoholism and Addictions of Finger Lakes
Northern Rivers
Northwell Health
Rensselaer County Department of Mental Health
Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County
The Addictions Care Center of Albany
Girl Scout Troop 2121
Kerboom Kidz

2024 Mental Health Matters Day

Thank you to all who attended!

Legislatures

Senator Samra Brouk

Assemblymember Aileen Gunther

Assemblymember Patricia A. Fahy

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan

New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty A. Rosa

New York State Education Department Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy Jeffrey Matteson

Patrick Wildes, Assistant Secretary to the Governor for Human Services & Mental Hygiene

Universities

Fulton-Montgomery Community College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Siena College

SUNY Albany

School Groups

Cairo-Durham MS/HS

Catskill High School

Cohen Strong Mental Health: Northwell Health Community Program for High-School Students

Greenville Central School District 

Maple Hill Jr./Sr. High School

Pelham Together / Pelham Memorial High School

Community Organizations

Active Minds (RPI)

Alliance for Rights and Recovery

Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families

ASCEND Mental Wellness

Association for Mental Health and Wellness  

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area

Bronx Defenders

Center For Independence of the Disabled, New York

Clinton County Coalition to Prevent Suicide

Mental Health America of Dutchess County

Mental Health Association of Westchester County

National Association of Social Workers – New York State Chapter

New Choices Recovery Center

Northern Regional Center for Independent Living

Northern Rivers

Vibrant Emotional Health

St. Vincent’s Hospital

Zucker Hillside Hospital

2023 Mental Health Matters Day

Recording of Mental Health Matters Day 2023 is available.

Word Art Ribbon

Mental Health Advocacy Word Cloud

In 2022, participants were asked, “What is one word that comes to mind when thinking about mental health advocacy?”

Here were their answers!