Central East MHTTC

DESCRIPTION Depression has been a growing problem in the United States for decades. Recent data reports that the nation reached record levels of depression in 2023, and these trends have continued into 2024. During this same time, the use of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy has grown steadily. While both have been shown to be helpful interventions, they have not been sufficient to slow the growth in this potentially life-threatening condition. A growing body of research has been focusing on modern western culture's impact on mental health disorders. Factors such as social isolation, sedentary work and leisure activities, impaired sleep, processed foods, time pressured work schedules and stress, and abuse of substances all contribute to the susceptibility to symptoms of depression. Research and clinical experience have also been demonstrating the benefits of regular exercise, exposure to full spectrum light, whole food diets, regular social engagement and support, connection to community, spending time in green spaces and near bodies of water, and avoidance of ruminative thinking. This webinar will examine these factors and the impact they can have as part of a comprehensive natural approach toward building robust mental health and overall wellbeing. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Recognize links between modern Western culture and increasing prevalence of depression Identify cultural patterns common among ancestral human societies believed to support physical, social, and emotional well-being Describe natural interventions that can be incorporated into modern life that have been shown to improve depression and well-being List strategies for including natural interventions in behavioral health services to support improved mood PRESENTERS Philip Rainer, M.S.W., LCSW-R, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York. Mr. Rainer has many years of experience as a psychotherapist, behavioral health program manager, and senior leader in hospitals and community-based organizations serving people with mental health issues and substance use disorders. Mr. Rainer began to integrate natural interventions in his work with people early on, after recognizing that these choices were having a significant impact on the path of recovery and quality of life for those experiencing depression and other behavioral health concerns. As Mr. Rainer developed and supervised integrated behavioral health and primary care services, he became aware of the value of simple natural choices in the support of both physical and behavioral health and integrated them into treatment protocols. As a consultant with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., Mr. Rainer has provided guidance nationally to health centers in the implementation of integrated behavioral health and primary care, including natural strategies for supporting overall health and well-being. Xiomara Romero, M.S., LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. She has more than 14 years’ experience in the mental health field, including providing behavioral health services in an integrative behavioral health setting, counseling and psychological services at universities, and private practice. Ms. Romero has consulted with nonprofit organizations focused on providing services for cancer patients and their families and consulting with clinicians interested in going into private practice. She has worked with clients of all ages—children to adults—providing mental health services. Throughout her direct clinical practice in integrative settings, she witnessed the impact of limited access to natural approaches on mental and physical well-being. Through podcasting, she has enjoyed interviewing several holistic providers and learning about indigenous and ancestral forms of healing. Additionally, she has experience with group facilitation, presenting at conferences, and consulting. Ms. Romero is bilingual in English and Spanish, provides culturally responsive care, and is an advocate for underserved communities. She currently serves as a Senior Program Associate with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., supporting several projects. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Behavioral health professionals and peer specialists working with individuals experiencing depression.

DESCRIPTION The Central East MHTTC in collaboration with the National Center for School Mental Health is pleased to offer a school mental health webinar series with a focus on advancing high quality, sustainable school mental health from a multi-tiered system of support, trauma sensitive, and culturally responsive and equitable lens. To familiarize yourself with the foundations of school mental health, please review the school mental health guidance document. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explore how to create a Culturally Responsive Ecosystem through teaching, school leadership, and instructional supervision. Describe Culturally Responsive Instructional Supervision. Identify implementation barriers and solutions to implementing Culturally Responsive Instructional Supervision. PRESENTERS Dwayne Ray Cormier, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Culturally Responsive Solutions, LLC, is a visionary leader with a diverse background. His career includes roles as a middle school science teacher and assistant professor at a Research 1 University. Dr. Cormier’s educational path led him through historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), where he earned a BA in Psychology from Edward Waters College, an M.Ed in Sports and Leisure Management from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and an MAT in Middle School Science and Mild to Moderate Special Education from Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. Cormier’s academic journey included a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Pennsylvania State University, with an emphasis on Curriculum and Supervision, and a professorship at a Research 1 institution. His extensive knowledge of culturally responsive praxis has made him a recognized expert in institutional leadership. Driven by his passion for advancing education and technology, he launched VSorts™ AI—an NSF SBIR-funded startup for qualitative data analysis in people management and research in education. AUDIENCE Educators, Administrators, Health and Behavioral Health Care Professionals, Central East (Region 3) Project AWARE Grantees, Policymakers and Advocates, and Child-Serving Agency Staff.

DESCRIPTION Black maternal bereavement, or the distinctive sense of grief and loss of Black mothers, not only refers to the intense experience of maternal suffering from the loss of a child or complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum but also reflects social, emotional, and psychological losses within Black communities. Cultural beliefs and societal expectations influence the expression of grief in Black mothers and the ways in which others respond to their losses. Social injustices and systemic discrimination as well as racial inequalities in healthcare exacerbate the negative impacts of grief on the mental and physical health of Black mothers. Awareness and acknowledgment of these factors are essential to supporting Black mothers and promote healing and empowerment within Black communities. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe unique challenges that Black mothers face when grieving the loss of a child or complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Discuss historical and contemporary factors that influence cultural beliefs about Black maternal grief. Identify strategies to validate and support Black mothers who are grieving. PRESENTER Delane Casiano, MD, is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. With specialization in cultural psychiatry and women’s mental health, She has worked with ethnically diverse populations in a multitude of health care settings. Dr. Casiano earned her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Program for Minority Research Training in Psychiatry (PMRTP) at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) Center for Psychotherapy Research (CPR). Clinical organizations herald Dr. Casiano’s work as well. She collaborated with the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and the Penn Center for Women’s Behavioral Wellness (PCWBW) to create the Maternal Wellness Initiative (MWI), a combined program of psychiatry and obstetrics/gynecology services for women. She also supervised multidisciplinary teams as associate medical director for the Princeton House Behavioral Health Women’s Program. Dr. Casiano is a Founding Member and current President of Global Health Psychiatry, LLC (GHP), an organization founded by ten African American psychiatrists committed to empowering individuals and their families through mental health education and community action. HOST Annelle Primm MD, MPH is the Senior Medical Director of the Steve Fund, an organization focused on the mental health of young people of color. She is also a member of the Black Psychiatrists of America Council of Elders. This webinar is part of the Health Equity Webinar Series, an ongoing collaboration between the Central East MHTTC and the Black Psychiatrists of America to increase education and awareness surrounding mental health in the Black community. View past webinars in the series

Recording of the event "Providing Culturally Sensitive Care for Black and Latinx Mothers with Mental Health Diagnoses," the third session in the Black and Latinx Perinatal PTSD series, originally held on July 10, 2024. Slide presentation

Recording of the event Black & Brown Latinx Perinatal PTSD: What Behavioral Health Providers Need To Know, Session 2: Exploring Trauma During the Birthing Process and Its Impact on Black and Latinx Mothers Recording, originally held on 6/26/24. Slide presentation

This publication (Revised June 2024) will help organizations and staff address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. It includes an array of resources that provide guidance about raising awareness, assessing competencies, implementing strategic planning, and advanced training.