How is Your Organization Observing Minority Mental Health Month?
2024年7月12日 - 2:00AM
Each July, we reflect on the importance of mental health in
communities of color during Bebe Campbell Moore Minority Mental
Health Month. Too often, people of color bear an exceedingly heavy
burden while also battling stigmas around mental health and a lack
of access to mental health care. Last month, The Chicago School
reinforced its commitment to advancing mental well-being for
communities of color by attending the National Association of
Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and Hispanics in
Philanthropy (HIP) conferences.
For women in public service, it is especially
challenging to pause, evaluate, and share the distinct challenges
they face while in public office and the effects on their mental
health. Nadia Rojas-Jones, EdD, Professor of Marriage & Family
Therapy and Associate Director of Community Partnerships at The
Chicago School, participated in a panel discussion—“Empowering
Latina Leaders: Navigating Mental Health Challenges in Public
Office”—with Honorable Nora E. Vargas, Supervisor of San Diego
County, Honorable California State Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo,
and Honorable Michelle De La Isla, Former Mayor of Topeka, Kansas,
and CEO of Hack Diversity. The engaging dialogue covered best
practices for Latinas to observe self-care and included discussions
on maintaining mental wellness while fulfilling their
responsibilities as public-facing leaders.
The theme of this year's HIP conference—“Corazón y
Poder: Unleashing Our Power”—was exemplified by the attendees and
sessions throughout the week. Held this year in Chicago,
participants had the chance to share the transformational power and
progress of trust-based philanthropy, spotlight marginalized and
underfunded LGBTQIA+ communities, and travel for site visits that
addressed health, the environment, and the arts. Lance Garrison,
Ph.D., Dean, College of Professional Psychology at The Chicago
School, presented “Stress Management: A Guide for Those Who Eat
Stress for Breakfast” at the conference's opening, offering a
comprehensive exploration into managing daily stress
effectively.
“The Chicago School's continued support of
organizations such as NALEO and HIP speaks to the diversity of our
student body and the cities we call home for our many campuses,”
remarked Michele Nealon, Psy.D., President of The Chicago School.
“This Minority Health Month, please be reminded that we all play a
major role in advancing mental health care and access for the most
vulnerable communities. Organizations have a responsibility to
build stronger and healthier communities.”
About The Chicago School
Founded in 1979, The Chicago School, formerly known
as The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, is a
not-for-profit, accredited institution with over 40 years of
history in educating professionals in the field of psychology and
related behavioral sciences at campuses across the United States.
The school offers innovative online and campus-based programs,
including PsyD and PhD degrees in Clinical Psychology, Counseling
Psychology, Educational Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Health
Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and Applied
Behavior Analysis.
Contact
Shannon Palmer; spalmer1@thechicagoschool.edu