The NYS Office of Mental Health is partnering with Behavioral Health News to sponsor four roundtable discussions on the impact of stigma on the care and treatment of people living with mental illness.

The first of the 2023 Mental Health Stigma Roundtable Discussion Series will be held on Thursday, January 12th at 2pm ET. The roundtables are all virtual, free, and open to the public. Registration information is available on the Behavioral Health News website.

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “The stigma surrounding mental illness leads to discrimination and a loss of opportunities for people living with mental illness. It can also cause people to avoid or reject seeking help for mental health issues. We are proud to partner with Behavioral Health News to spread the message that the stigma is unfounded and that there is no health without mental health."

David Minot, Executive Director of Mental Health News Education, the nonprofit organization that publishes Behavioral Health News, said, “These Roundtable Discussions are a unique educational opportunity to hear first-person accounts of people’s personal and professional experience with mental health stigma. You will learn what can be done to help reduce this unnecessary stigma that is negatively impacting the lives of so many people living with mental health concerns. If you or someone you know has experienced mental health stigma, you should register to attend one or all of the four Roundtable Discussions. Only through awareness and speaking openly about our experiences can we begin to chip away at the damage stigma has and continues to cause to our society.”

The roundtable discussions will feature subject experts, including people with lived experience, mental health care providers, community leaders, journalists, policy makers, and advocates. The sessions will be facilitated by Dr. James Rodriguez, a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychologist in private practice with more than 25 years of experience as a direct practitioner, trainer, and researcher in mental health services to children, youth, adults, and families. Dr. Rodriguez is the Senior Director of Clinical Initiatives at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research and Adjunct Faculty at the NYU Silver School of Social Work.

Panelists will share their personal and professional experiences with mental health stigma. The roundtables will delve into the various types and causes of stigma, the experience of living with stigma, and the impact stigma has on the care provided to people living with mental illness.

Registration information, as well as additional details on the subjects, panelists, times, and dates of each roundtable is available on the Behavioral Health News website at the links below:

• Roundtable 1: Understanding the Experience of Mental Health Stigma
• Roundtable 2: The Experience of Mental Health Stigma Among Diverse Group
• Roundtable 3: The Role of the Media in Reducing Stigma
• Roundtable 4: Paths to Reduce Stigma and Promote Positive Attitudes

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