AFSP Louisiana and LAMHA hosted Behavioral Health Day at the Capitol on May 4
January 1, 2023 – 3 min read
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Louisiana Chapter and Louisiana Mental Health Association hosted Behavioral Health Day at the Capitol on May 4, 2023
Baton Rouge, LA – (April 18, 2023) The Louisiana Mental Health Association (LAMHA) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Louisiana Chapter (AFSP Louisiana) were proud to host the second annual Behavioral Health Day which took place on May 4, 2023 at the Louisiana State Capitol. Special thanks to all of our amazing volunteers and supporters for making this year's event a great success!
Behavioral Health Day gathered over 100 advocates to the Capitol Steps to hear Louisiana’s legislative leaders and other mental health champions talk about pressing issues impacting behavioral health and suicide prevention policy in Louisiana. Following speeches on the steps, attendees gathered at A.Z. Young Park for lunch and a mental health resource fair with dozens of community resource vendors. Advocates then met with their representatives and discussed various legislative priorities including funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, expanding the behavioral health workforce in the state, and increasing suicide prevention in schools. The Louisiana State Capitol was also illunmated in green the night of Behavioral Health Day, May 4th in honor of Mental Health Month.
Contact Meghan to learn more about Behavioral Health Day 2024 - [email protected].
Behavioral Health Day is needed to raise awareness because 1 in 4 people are diagnosed with a mental health condition and 715,000 adults in Louisiana have a mental health condition- that is more than three times the population of Baton Rouge. In Louisiana, 3,398,990 people live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals (nami.org). The youth mental health crisis has escalated, and the Surgeon General has declared it a national emergency. Louisiana currently ranks 42nd in access to youth mental health services (mha.org). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and the 14th leading cause of death in Louisiana in 2020. According to the 2021 provisional data from the CDC, 47,646 people died by suicide, up 3.6% from 45,979 in 2020. To learn more about Louisiana Behavioral Health Day, please visit https://bhd2023.attendease.com/.
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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with a public policy office in Washington, DC, AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states including Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Louisiana Mental Health Association (LAMHA) has been in operation since 1954 when it began as an organization promoting advocacy and education on mental illness and related issues. LAMHA has grown to include programs for adults with severe and persistent mental illness in the Greater Baton Rouge area and statewide. All programs operated by LAMHA strive to develop independence, self-sufficiency and consumer empowerment of our clients and are provided at no cost to the participant. Learn more about LAMHA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.