Watch LIVE STREAM @ 6:30PM Monday 12/16: https://www.facebook.com/MentalHealthUS/videos/796966394097047/?fbclid=IwAR3Oiwl-cEbhEIS7BjDIaCgpbf0dOwnHcsrun_G_kXhb0HO3S7t6atWFjdo
Source: mentalhealthforus.net
“Town Hall on Mental Health and Addiction Policy and the 2020 Presidential Election to Host National and Local Speakers
Concord, NH – Two-time Olympian and IRONMAN triathlete; Sarah True and Judge Steven Leifman, Associate Administrative Judge of the Miami-Dade County Court – Criminal Division, will join 2020 presidential candidates, national policymakers, and advocates at the Unite for Mental Health: New Hampshire Town Hall, Monday, Dec. 16.
The event, hosted by the NH Community Behavioral Health Association, Mental Health for US, and the National Council for Behavioral Health at St. Anslem College, will highlight key issues and solutions related to mental health and substance use disorder. True, a New Hampshire resident, will share her story as a vocal advocate for mental health, having publicly shared her struggles following the 2016 Olympics. Judge Leifman will speak to his experience establishing widescale reforms at the intersection of the criminal justice system and mental health and addiction treatment. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, (D-NH1), will deliver welcoming remarks and former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy will speak to the unmet needs of the behavioral health community nationwide. Presidential candidates will be announced in the coming days.
Roland Lamy, executive director of the NH Community Behavioral Health Association, and Patricia Carty, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester will serve as emcee for the evening.
“We commend these nationally-recognized speakers and advocates for their efforts around mental health advocacy, outreach, and judicial system reform.” Lamy said. “We’re excited to have them join our audience of families, policymakers, and mental health professionals to share their stories. Their experiences are a testament to the true importance of the mental health and addiction policy discussion ahead of this upcoming presidential election.”
Other local advocates include: Community Partners Executive Director Brian Collins, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Volunteer and Chapter Board member Matthew Francis, National Alliance on Mental Illness NH President Ken Norton, New Hampshire Circuit Court Judge John T. Pendleton, AFSP New Hampshire chair Lisa Riley, and Concord Monitor reporter Annemarie Timmins. The event will be open to the media and will be livestreamed.
More about the event:
What: Unite for Mental Health: New Hampshire Town Hall
Where: Dana Center at Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Dr., Manchester, NH
When: Monday, December 16 at 6:30 PM
Who: Two-time Olympian and IRONMAN triathlete; Sarah True
U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH1)
Former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy
2020 presidential candidates
Other local and national speakers
Registration: tinyurl.com/Unite4MentalHealthNH
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About the Event Partners:
Mental Health for US is a nonpartisan educational initiative focused on elevating mental health and addiction in national policy conversations by empowering grassroots advocates and improving candidate and policymaker health literacy. The Mental Health for US coalition is comprised of more than 83 stakeholder groups from around the country dedicated to uniting the American people to make systemic, long-term change with civic engagement tools and resources.
The National Council for Behavioral Health is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and addictions treatment and services. Together with our 3,326 member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First Aid USA and 2 million Americans have been trained.
The NH Community Behavioral Health Association (NH CBHA), Concord, New Hampshire, is a section 501(c)(3) organization, established by the ten community mental health centers in New Hampshire for the purposes of advocating for the priorities of NH CBHA members, eliminate the stigma related to mental health, provide high quality and effective systems of care, and raise awareness of overall health care and prevention and treatment of mental illness.”