On August 16th, Our Minds Matter Director of Program Development, Rachel Greenberg, LMSW, had the pleasure of serving on a panel at the American Psychiatric Association & American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APA & APAF) inaugural Learning Lab: Centering Community Organizations in Providing Mental Health Care. This day-long summit convened psychiatry residents and mental health nonprofit leaders from around the country to share expertise, resources, and innovation with the goal of building a more inclusive and effective mental health landscape, especially for those who are marginalized. 

Rachel spoke on the panel: Stronger Together: Building Mental Health Through Advocacy. She and her fellow panelists discussed the importance of centering the voices of those with lived experience, building coalitions to drive progress, and not being afraid of stepping into advocacy. For the psychiatry residents, Rachel especially emphasized OMM’s Teen Advisory Council model, which includes teens themselves in the decisions being made about teen mental health. Participants were challenged to think about how they might bring this model into their hospitals, clinics, and schools to consult with those who will be most affected before making major decisions.

And in turn, Rachel learned so much from the other community organizations and psychiatry fellows in attendance. Hearing from the APA about the expansion of their free mental health resource for schools: Notice. Talk. Act. was especially exciting because OMM included this resource in our toolkit of recommended trainings for school staff for the coming year. The best part of the day was how refreshing and energizing it was to be in a room full of community organization leaders and medical residents who were all eager to learn from one another and work together for the good of the people we serve. 

Thank you to the APA for your incredible leadership in this space, and for your continued support of OMM’s work!