The issue of mental health touches on all aspects of our society, all too frequently being front-and-center in the news when it comes to such darker topics as suicide, bullying, and drug abuse.

Tina Lee, the Community Education and Outreach Manager for The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New York State, has begun speaking to Rotary clubs in District 7190 on the overall topic of “Raising Mental Health and Awareness in our Communities.” On Thursday, September 13, she will be visiting SRC for a presentation.

Formerly executive director of NAMI’s Mid-Hudson Region, among her efforts since moving up to a statewide role, she has been working with the East Greenbush Central School District on such issues as  suicide prevention and the opioid epidemic.

• This very important and timely program should be of interest to most Rotarians, but please remember we always welcome guests to share our programs. Thus, if you would like to bring a non-Rotarian to the dinner meeting, please include their names when you RSVP no later than Tuesday, September 11, to dinner coordinator Debbie Brown’s next invitation to ensure sufficient seating and buffet items to accommodate everyone.

Tina says her passion for mental health stemmed from her own daughter’s battle with mental health issues. Tina is a member of the Dutchess County Prevention Council DCDBCH, the Quality Assurance Committee, the Juvenile Justice Committee, and the Eastern Dutchess Rural Health Network Coalition, and is an instructor for the Dutchess County Crisis Intervention Training Committee.

In 2016, she was appointed to the Statewide Multicultural Advisory Committee (SMAC) with the Office of Mental Health and is a member of New York State’s Suicide Prevention Advisory Task Force.

She is a certified NAMI State Trainer for “Ending the Silence” and “Parents and Teachers As Allies,” two mental health literacy programs for high school students and educators. She recently became certified to present “Suicide Safety for Teachers,” a suicide prevention program for educators through the Suicide Prevention Center of New York State. And, she is NARCAN trained, ASSIST- and Safetalk-certified, and, since 2013,  a certified instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid through the Council for Behavioral Health.

Please give strong consideration to attending this event, as always at 6:15 p.m. at Quigley’s, with socializing beginning at 5:45 p.m.