FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/10/2026
Glenn Liebman
CEO
gliebman@mhanys.org
MHANYS SMHRTCenter 5th Annual School Mental Health Summer Academy:
Celebrating a Decade of School Mental Health,
Empowering Program to Launch 2026-27 School Year
Albany, NY – MHANYS’s School Mental Health Resource and Training Center (SMHRTCenter) is proud to host its 5th Annual School Mental Health Summer Academy: Showcase of Success: Celebrating Ten Years of Mental Health in Schools on Tuesday, August 11, and Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nearly 1,000 teachers, administrators, school mental health professionals, support staff, community partners and providers, and families have registered to join us. Centered around celebrating the milestone of a decade of mental health education in New York State, the online program features a distinguished roster of experts and dynamic presentations to empower school communities for the new school year.
“MHANYS’s SMHRTCenter School Mental Health Summer Academy is an incredible opportunity available at no cost for school communities, providing practical knowledge, best practices and resources, and models of successful initiatives for building and sustaining the mental health and well-being of students and staff,” said Glenn Liebman, MHANYS CEO. The SMHRTCenter and the program of this year’s School Mental Health Summer Academy is a testament to our ongoing efforts to steward the implementation of New York’s mental health education law. We commend Governor Hochul for the ongoing leadership and prioritization of youth mental health, and thank New York State Commissioners of the Office of Mental Health, Dr. Ann Sullivan, and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, and the New York State Education Department Commissioner, Dr. Betty A. Rosa, for the continued engagement and support of the School Mental Health Summer Academy and the SMHRTCenter.”
The School Mental Health Summer Academy is strategically timed for mid-August as research and data show that anxiety and stress rise ahead of the start of the school year for students and staff. A 2023 study conducted by the American Psychological Association reported 75% of students felt significant stress about returning to school. Studies find students’ anxiety is compounded by academic pressures as well as social and emotional challenges, with nearly 60% feeling nervous about social interactions and fitting in with their peers, according to a 2024 study by the Pew Research Center. Recent data reveals rising rates of burnout among educators and staff, underscoring the urgent need for sustained commitment to school wellness. The SMHRTCenter is dedicated to meeting this challenge by offering professional development presentations and trainings, supporting curriculum development, and providing ongoing technical assistance to educators and school communities. Through initiatives such as the monthly Educator Café, Family Education Webinar series, and active participation in community events, the SMHRTCenter continually fosters environments where wellness can thrive.
“The SMHRTCenter Team is proud to offer our best School Mental Health Summer Academy to date with panels and presentations including students that will be sharing their insightful perspectives on current and emerging challenges, creative ways to foster collaboration for upstream mental health education, youth in action with peer-led models, navigating life on and offline, and developing mental health education curriculum that has a meaningful impact,” said Donna Bradbury, Director, SMHRTCenter. “We are also grateful to host a Conversation with New York State Leaders featuring remarks from New York State Commissioners of the Office of Mental Health, Dr. Ann Sullivan, and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. The best practices shared during the School Mental Health Summer Academy provide a practical toolkit for adopting policies and building a culture that fosters healthier and more resilient communities inside and outside the classroom.”
Each morning of the School Mental Health Summer Academy will commence with a plenary session. On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the morning begins at 9 a.m. with Nothing About Us, Without Us: The Power of Youth Voices, which will feature a panel of students sharing their perspectives on the challenges they and their peers face, as well as how schools can best address these stressors and improve students’ mental well-being. On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 9 a.m., we kick off the day with the plenary, Looking Back at the Impact of a Decade of Mental Health Education and Moving Forward with MHANYS. The School Mental Health Summer Academy features engaging one-hour workshop sessions each day following the plenary that showcase successful initiatives implemented by New York schools leading to increased mental well-being among staff and students.
The workshop sessions include the following:
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Conversation with New York State Leaders
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Administrators as Champions of School-wide Mental Health
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Creative Classrooms, Empowered Minds: Teaching Mental Health with Impact
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Creative Community Collaboration for Upstream Mental Health Education
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Implementing FLIP IT District- Wide – A Behavioral Strategy for All Ages
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Social Emotional Education: Helping Youth Navigate Life On and Off Line
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Stop Guessing! Let Your Students Help Lead Your School Climate Work
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Youth Voice in Action: A Peer-Led Model for Mental Health Education in Schools
CTLE professional development credits are available for attending the School Mental Health Summer Academy. Registration for School Mental Health Summer Academy is available here along with the schedule.
About Mental Health Association in New York State
The Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) improves the lives of individuals, families, and communities by raising mental health awareness, ending stigma and discrimination, and promoting wellness and recovery. MHANYS was incorporated in 1960. We have 24 affiliates in 50 counties throughout New York State. We are an affiliate of Mental Health America.
MHANYS established the SMHRTCenter in 2018 to support all New York State public and private schools in implementing Chapter 390 of the Laws of 2016, which requires mental health instruction as part of the K-12 health education curricula. Through our mental health presentations to schools, curriculum development materials, monthly Educator Café and Family Education Webinar series, and mental health and wellness toolkits, we support students, educators, and the entire school community in teaching mental health and wellness.
