Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium

Welcome messages from ACL, SAMHSA, and HRSA
The keynote will feature a Q&A with National Council on Aging (NCOA) CEO, Ramsey Alwin, and Montel Williams. 

Montel Williams will talk about his personal journey with mental health and multiple sclerosis(MS).

Montel Williams, Emmy-Award winning TV personality, Bestselling Author, Marine Corps and Navy Veteran and Healthcare Advocate

Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO, National Council on Aging

Alison Barkoff, Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Administration for Community Living

There are 60 million Americans who provide unpaid care to an individual who has a physical or mental illness. This session will dive into what is the impact on the caregiver. Attendees will learn how they can better support these caregivers with resources to help them maintain their mental health and care for their care recipients. 

Jamie Huysman, Psy.D, LCSW, CAP, CFT, Vice President of Provider Relations and Government Affairs, WellMed Medical Management

Greg Link, Director, Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services, Administration for Community Living

The session will provide an overview of medication safety for older adults and how the use of multiple and inappropriate medications can lead to and/or exacerbate mental health issues in older adults. A patient advocate will provide testimonial of her lived experiences and a senior center will discuss current initiatives that educate and empower older adults on safe medication use.  

Jennifer Stoll, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Primary Care Research Institute, Center, University at Buffalo Department of Family Medicine

Kerry Peek, Senior Center Director, Cheektowaga Senior Service Center

Mary Brennan-Taylor, Patient Safety Advocate, University at Buffalo School of Family Medicine

Kathleen Cameron, National Council on Aging

Each year, an estimated 40 million older Americans experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Older adults who suffer from a TBI are at an increased risk for developing mental health disorders, such as major depression and panic disorder. This session will explore how TBIs impact older adults and their mental health. 

Michael Hall, PhD, LCP, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University

Ken Collins, Person with Brain Injury, Advocate

Maria Crowley, MA, CRC, Director of Professional Development, NASHIA

Social cohesion and engagement can help improve quality of life and is associated with better mental and emotional health for older adults. Learn about the national initiatives to support social cohesion as well as intergenerational opportunities as one strategy to address older adult social isolation.

Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA,, U.S. Surgeon General

Colleen Galambos, PhD, ACSW, LCSW-C, FGSA, Center Scientist, Center for Aging and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Maggie Ratnayake, MA, LPC, Executive Director, Lori's Hands (Newark, DE)

Lily Liu, Family Caregiver

Older and middle-aged adults in the United States account for about 80 percent of those who experience chronic pain. This session will discuss how people who have chronic pain are more likely to experience mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The session will discuss mental health resources available for those suffering from chronic pain.

Yvette Colón, PhD, BCD, LMSW, Associate Professor; department member, Women's & Gender Studies; and Faculty Affiliate for the Aging Studies Program in the School of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University

Nicole Hemmenway, CEO, U.S. Pain Foundation

Linda Shaw, U.S. Pain Foundation's BIPOC Community Support Group Lead

Linda Porter, PhD, Director, Office of Pain Policy and Planning, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Older adults were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Research has shown that rates of anxiety and depression have increased during the pandemic for older adults. This session will examine what the impact has been on older adults’ mental health thus far and resources available to support older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Erica Solway, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H., Deputy Director, National Poll on Healthy Aging, University of Michigan

JD Davids, Founder, Network for Long COVID Justice and Strategies for High Impact (S4HI)

Anita Everett, MD, DFAPA, Director, Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

9-8-8 launched on July 16, 2022, as a new way for individuals in a mental health crisis to connect with a trained mental health professional. What has the rollout and impact looked like so far? The E4 Center will also share about new modules created for call centers to better help serve older adults. 

Tia Dole, PhD, Chief 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Officer, Vibrant Emotional Health

Erin Emery-Tiburcio, PhD, ABPP, Co-Director, E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging

Monica Johnson, MA, LPC, Director, 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office, SAMHSA

This panel will summarize what are the current models and promising practices of behavioral health integration to address chronic conditions and mental health. 

Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, Professor

Neil Korsen, MD, MSc, Faculty Scientist

Ashley Breazeale, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO

Arlene S. Bierman, MD, MS, Director