Agenda

The OAMHAD Symposium will take place on May 2, 10:00 am until 5:00 pm EST. Please note all session times listed below are listed based on your local time zone. To view sessions, click on the desired session title listed below, then click on the "Watch Session" button. Access to live sessions will begin 5 minutes prior to the start of the live session. 

Learning Objectives

In this symposium, participants will be able to:

  • To share new initiatives, strategies, promising practices as well as the perspective of older adults to improve access, reduce stigma, and increase collaboration in the field of older adult mental health, particularly to assist those with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. 
  • To increase awareness about the role that health inequities play in the care and treatment of older adult mental health and substance use disorders, and identify culturally-appropriate approaches to reduce their impact, including social support and evidence-based interventions.
  • To provide attendees with actionable steps they can bring back to their communities.
  • Identify policy solutions to address inequities and access barriers in older adult mental health.

Welcome and Keynote - 10:00 am - 11:00 am Eastern

Thu, May 2 at 10:00 am EDT
Welcome and Keynote Speaker, Jenifer Lewis

Watch Recording
Overview

Join us for welcome remarks from federal partners and a Q&A with NCOA’s CEO, Ramsey Alwin and Actress, Jenifer Lewis. Actress Jenifer Lewis will be sharing about her personal journey with bipolar disorder.

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

The recording of Ms. Lewis' Keynote is no longer available on demand.

Speaker(s)

Jenifer Lewis, Known as the “The Mother of Black Hollywood” and co-star of ABC’s “Black-ish”

Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Alison Barkoff, Performing the duties of the ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Administration for Community Living

Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Carole Johnson, Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration

Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO, National Council on Aging

Break

Break – Suicide Prevention Resource Center – Reaching Older Adults

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Overview

The mental health needs of older adults are not being met. This population is unlikely to use mental health services in the way they were originally designed—going to a provider and asking for help. Suicide prevention programs and mental health services must be adapted to better fit the needs of older adults. One way communities can do this is by integrating mental health services into aging services programs such as senior centers. To learn more, check out our spotlight session at 1:00pm ET.

Breakout Sessions - 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Eastern

Select the breakout session you would like to join.

Thu, May 2 at 11:15 am EDT
1. The Intersection of Nutrition and Mental Health: Research and Solutions

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Overview

Older adults have an increased risk of malnutrition, food insecurity, and other nutrition-related concerns that can negatively impact their mental health. This session will provide an overview of the overlap between nutrition and mental health and examine solutions. An innovation in nutrition services will showcase a virtual diabetes education program that addresses depression, anxiety, and social isolation among their clients. 

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Speaker(s)

Nadine Sahyoun, PhD, Professor

Heather Engelman, RD, Manager of Nutrition Services/Registered Dietitian

Nigel Atherley, Past Participant

Moderators

Kathy Wilson-Gold, MS, RDN, LD, FAND, Nutrition Contractor

Thu, May 2 at 11:15 am EDT
2. Supporting Grandfamilies to Build Resilience

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Overview

Grandfamilies refer to grandparents or other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of raising children due to various life-altering events like parental death, mental health, and substance use disorders, incarceration, deportation, divorce, or military deployment. These situations often result in traumatic experiences that impact the mental health of both the children and their caregivers. Recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, racial violence, and the opioid epidemic have compounded the impact of trauma. Yet grandfamilies face complex and often unique barriers to accessing mental health services and supports. It is imperative to address the mental wellness of grandfamilies. This presentation explores the complex mental health landscape among grandfamily caregivers by highlighting key findings from Generations United's 2023 State of Grandfamilies Report titled "Building Resilience: Supporting Grandfamilies' Mental Health and Wellness." The report examines the mental health challenges faced by grandfamilies as well as family strengths and provides policy and practice recommendations to address these issues.

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Speaker(s)

Jamarl Clark, Assistant Director

Larry Cooper, Executive Vice President of Innovation

Mercedes Bristol, Founder and Executive Director

Moderators

Keith Lowhorne, Chairperson

Thu, May 2 at 11:15 am EDT
3. Managing Substance Use Crises in Older Adults: Innovative Models for Screening and Treatment

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Overview

Attending to the needs of middle aged and older adults experiencing SUD is fraught with complications and challenges. For example, morbidity and mortality estimates associated with SUD may often preclude individuals from living into older adulthood. The Hope Pointe Crisis Center has developed to provide common services such as triage, temporary observation, and connection to community-based wrap-around services, including special attention to the needs of middle aged and older adults. This new collaboration stems from an ongoing HRSA-funded graduate clinical psychology education training grant that, since 2022 and in collaboration with the Tuscaloosa County Mental Health Court, Karen Jones, and Dr. Jennifer Cox, focuses on the needs of justice-involved individuals.

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Speaker(s)

Rebecca S. Allen, PhD, ABPP, Professor and Associate Chair of Psychology Director

Karen Jones, Chief Executive Officer

Tony Sanchez, Co-Founder

Moderators

Nicole Cadovius, MBA, MSM, CAPS and FAAIDD, Director of Practice Improvement

Break

Break - Learn about Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults

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Overview

Gain the knowledge needed to confidently recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in older adults by getting certified in Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults. Find a course near you via MHFA.org. 

Spotlight Session - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern

Thu, May 2 at 1:00 pm EDT
Spotlight Session Topic: Suicide Prevention: What the Field Needs to Know About What Works

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Overview

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that suicide rates have significantly increased for older adults and generally increased with age, with men aged 75 and older having the highest rate of any age group. This session will present strategies that work to reach and help older adults.

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Speaker(s)

Kimberly A. Van Orden, PhD, Principal Investigator, The HOPE Lab

Debra Darmata, MS, Program Manager, Oregon CSP Program

Tim Glascock, MPH, Statewide ASIST Coordinator, Association of Oregon Community Mental Health

Kera Magarill, Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialist, Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services

Moderators

Alison Cammack, PhD, MPH, Health Scientist, CDC Suicide Prevention Team

Break

Break - Still Going Strong Campaign

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Overview

CDC’s Still Going Strong campaign speaks directly to older adults, ages 65 and older, and their caregivers. We want to raise awareness about preventable injuries among older adults. This campaign has two goals: 

Educate about common risk factors for falls and motor vehicle crashes, as well as traumatic brain injuries that happen from falls and motor vehicle crashes. 

Empower older adults and their caregivers to take simple steps that will help them maintain their independence and age without injury. 

Breakout Sessions - 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Eastern

Select the session you would like to join. 

Thu, May 2 at 2:15 pm EDT
4. Improving Equitable Access to Late-Life Depression Care

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Overview

Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) is an evidence-based late-life depression program. Recently, the developers of PEARLS engaged in an Equity Study to improve equitable access among older adults, especially low-income older adults of color, linguistically diverse older adults, and rural dwelling older adults, recognizing that many older adults are multiply marginalized by intersecting identities. This session will discuss what was learned from the Equity Study and share experiences from an implementation partner and a past participant. \

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Speaker(s)

KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard, PEARLS Coordinator and Research Coordinator, UW Health Promotion Research Center

Lanvin Andres, Executive Director, IDIC Filipino Senior and Family Services

Fred Valdez, Past PEARLS Participant

Moderators

Lily Liu, Family Caregiver

Thu, May 2 at 2:15 pm EDT
5. Addressing Serious Mental Illness in Older Adults

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Overview

People aging with serious mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression experience complex health problems and challenges to quality of life. They are also likely to experience accelerated physical aging as compared to people without such conditions. Older adults with serious mental illness are also very resilient and have coped with many challenges to well-being.  They can experience healthy aging with supports. The Felton Institute will then share about a multi-disciplinary teams model that was developed to form deeper relationships between behavioral health and aging services providers.

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Speaker(s)

Michelle R Zechner, PhD, Associate Professor, Rutgers

Catherine Spensley, MSW, LCSW, Senior Division Director, Felton Institute

Patricia Hayashi, Former Felton Institute Participant

Moderators

Paolo del Vecchio, MSW, Director of Recovery, SAMHSA

Thu, May 2 at 2:15 pm EDT
6. Understanding Hoarding Related to Mental Health in Older Adults

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Overview

Hoarding disorder can develop at any age, but the prevalence of hoarding disorder diagnoses increases by 20% with every 5 years of age. Individuals with hoarding disorder are also likely to experience other mental health conditions, and it can be a challenge to know what steps to take to provide support. This session will provide a better understanding of hoarding and what a task force is doing to address it.

Eligible for 1 CE with live participation

Speaker(s)

Catherine Ayers, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, UC San Diego

Tamar Cooper, LISW-S, Director of Behavioral Health Services, Benjamin Rose, Co-leads the Hoarding Connection

Bobbi, Participant, Benjamin Rose

Moderators

Mary Dozier, Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University

Break

Break - How SAMHSA Block Grants Can Support Older Adult Behavioral Health

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Overview

Funding is often a barrier to both the implementation of older adult behavioral health services and Mental Health and Aging CoalitionsAn untapped and under-used resource, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) block grants, are a viable option. 

The National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging (NCMHA) is provided a two-part Learning Collaborative (LC) as an opportunity for States to better address behavioral health and aging. 

Please note: These videos are resources to supplement the OAMHAD symposium, and the videos from the Learning Collaborative are not eligible for CEs. We recommend that you view these videos after the live symposium.

Closing Session and Remarks - 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern

Thu, May 2 at 3:30 pm EDT
Closing Session and Remarks: Older Adult Mental Health and Climate Change

Watch Recording
Overview

Climate change is the biggest threat to human health. The effects of climate change such as extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding impact not only physical health, but there are significant mental health consequences as well. Older adults are especially vulnerable. This session will cover the most important mental health impacts of climate change and information on what communities are doing to support older adults.

Closing: 4:30 to 5:00 PM Eastern

Eligible for 1.5 CEU with live participation

Speaker(s)

Robin Cooper, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco

Dawn Baldwin Gibson, PhD, Peletah Institute for Building Resilient Communities

Steven Samra, Dedicated Specialist, C4 Innovations, LLC.

Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO, National Council on Aging

Moderators

Elissa Epel, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco