Albany, NY – A Suffolk County mental health educator -- Beth Ramme -- has been honored at the New York State Office of Mental Health’s ‘What’s Great in our State 2017’. The annual event, held May 2 in Albany, celebrates the people and programs making a difference in the field of children’s mental health.

Beth Ramme is a state trainer for the ‘NAMI Basics’ course, which is designed to educate families who have children with mental health issues. She was recognized for her extraordinary commitment to children’s mental health issues and the education of families, professionals and the inmate population.

“Beth Ramme is a wonderful example of how one dedicated individual can make an incredibly profound impact for children and families that face mental health issues. Her impressive work in providing mental health education to so many communities is truly inspiring,” said New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan. “We thank Beth and each of our five honorees for their hard work and commitment to children’s mental health.”

In 2016, Beth adapted the course to educate inmates inside the Suffolk County women’s jail in Riverhead. Offered as part of discharge planning, the 12-week course educated inmates who have children with mental illness. The course taught these mothers how to assimilate and understand the issues their children may be struggling with, including the trauma of having a parent in prison. Beth then further adapted the course into ‘NAMI Basics for Professionals’ and will be offering it to educators, social workers, and other mental health workers as a Continuing Education training this spring.

“When I needed help as the mother of a child with mental illness, NAMI was there for me.  Now, I am more than happy to pay it forward, and do what I can to help other families navigate this difficult road,” says Beth Ramme, NAMI Basics Teacher & State Trainer. “I’ve learned early intervention is the key. When families receive the mental health education and support that they need at the onset of symptoms, the trajectory of their child’s mental health challenges can be significantly altered and the child can recover much sooner. I am honored to play a role in this early intervention process through NAMI, and I feel privileged that my work is being recognized by New York State.”

To learn more about NAMI’s education classes, and to find a course near you, visit https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-Programs.

‘What’s Great in Our State’

‘What’s Great in Our State’ is an annual event hosted by the New York State Office of Mental Health, the New York State Council on Children and Families, and a number of children’s mental health advocacy organizations in order to celebrate the individuals and programs that are successfully advancing the cause of children’s mental health in New York State. The event features a reading of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement proclaiming the week as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, a ceremony recognizing our honorees, and an art show featuring artwork created by children receiving services from New York State’s mental health system. This year’s event will also feature two keynote speakers and a moderated round-table discussion featuring the awardees.

The event coincides with Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, a national movement that seeks to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and to show that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development from birth.

For more information on the partners involved with this year’s ‘What’s Great in Our State’ event, visit http://conta.cc/2ou2Cr2.