Policy Panel: Transitions in Public Policy for Mental Health

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Panel will address ways in which political and administration shifts influence mental health services and community resources. This captures social-cultural correlates of mental health, mental illness diagnoses, and mental health policies and legislation at local, state, and national-levels. A reciprocal relationship will be discussed between social-cultural-beliefs-and-practices and policies-and-laws. We will highlight the need to hold legislators and administrations accountable while strengthening social-cultural necessities—such as destigmatizing mental illness, supportive family and school systems, and law enforcement Crisis Intervention Training—to buffer some of the effects of budget cuts and unfunded or inaccessible resources.

Sub Unit

• Policy Panels

Individual Presentations

• Transitions in Public Policy Regarding Mental Health - Kimya N Dennis, Salem College

Chair

• Paul Elam, Public Policy Associates

Discussants

• Ronald Day, The Fortune Society

• David L. Myers, University of New Haven

• Nicole Jarrett, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center