National leaders will offer discussion on the importance of mental health advocacy as a means of giving back to your community

OAKLAND, CA –– Jan. 15, 2021 –– In partnership with the Presidential Inaugural Committee, Well Being Trust will present a virtual National Day of Service event that discusses the importance of becoming a mental health advocate in the current moment – and more importantly, how to do so.

Titled, “Becoming an advocate for mental health reform,” the event will take place on Zoom this Monday, Jan. 18 from noon-1 p.m. EST and be led by Well Being Trust’s Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Benjamin F. Miller. Dr. Miller will be joined by Lishaun Francis, Associate Director for Health Collaborations at Children Now; Dr. Kavita Patel, the former Director of Policy in the Obama Administration who is currently a primary care physician at Washington, D.C.’s Mary’s Center; and  Former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), founder of The Kennedy Forum and co-chair of the Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 (an initiative of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention).

“One of the best ways we can make a difference in our communities is to better support the people in them,” said Dr. Miller. “Mental health is a fundamental part of our individual and national well-being, and having this conversation about how each of us can be empowered to help better our country from the inside out is needed now more than ever.”

Dr. Patel will explain the influence of advocacy on policy, while Patrick Kennedy will talk about why this kind of service is a solution to so many of our modern problems. Lishaun Francis will offer concrete skills for those joining on how they can serve their communities by becoming better advocates for change. Their discussion will be followed by a brief Q&A session.

“We are honored to be hosting this event in partnership with the Presidential Inaugural Committee and hope that this is the first of many mental health conversations to receive acknowledgment and support from the new administration,” Dr. Miller continued.   read more