A forum on factors outside the mind that affect mental health

Community Care Alliance (CCA) held a mental health panel discussion and luncheon, “Outside Your Head: Promote, Protect, & Restore,” at River Falls Restaurant in Woonsocket on May 17^th to encourage a conversation about new approaches to treating mental health by addressing mental stressors that are not of the mind.

During May is Mental Health Month, the fundraising event featured a panel comprised of mental health professionals who are using creative means to undermine the root causes of the unprecedented mental health crisis we are in today. Their work touches upon various aspects of mental wellbeing for people of all walks of life. Beth Lemme-Bixby, CEO at Tides Family Services; Laura Jaworski, Executive Director at House of Hope; Raymond Conca, Vocational Supervisor at Community Care Alliance; and Linda Hurley, President/CEO at CODAC Behavioral Health, answered questions put forth by moderator Stump Evans, Director of Youth Services at Community Care Alliance.

“By bringing together colleagues, policy makers and community members, we hope to ignite a conversation about how to address poverty, co-occurring addictions, children's wellbeing, and individual empowerment in a manner that is pertinent to the lives people are living now,” said Ben Lessing, President/CEO.  “How do we resolve larger issues that may seem out of our control and attend to the social determinants of health that impact our wellbeing? With conversations, the hope is that we can find new solutions to these prominent issues of our day.”

Also included in the event, Bethany Killian, co-founder of Sonic Connections, offered a meditative activity using music as a catalyst for healing and growth; and the audience learned of sound and music-based mental health tools for themselves and clients they may be working with. The CCA Child & Family Behavioral Health’s Storytellers Class displayed the artwork of children, age 7-16, who depicted feelings on canvas. Two NASW CEUs were available to participants.

Fourteen businesses and organizations supported the event, including premier-level sponsors: Mutual of America, Provider Group, Amica, and Bank RI. Proceeds from the event will support the Community Care Alliance Client Emergency Fund.