How do cultural biases in our communities and workplace affect peoples’ wellbeing, and the likelihood for suicide ideation? How can communities and workplaces be active places of support and care for individuals, regardless of their identities and intersectionalities? These questions and more will be explored at The MHP Community Breakfast on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023. This event is sponsored by Elevations Credit Union.
Our keynote speaker is Brandon J. Johnson (M.H.S., MCHES), a subject matter expert in suicide prevention and the creator of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge – a YouTube hub for Black mental health resources, support, conversations, and advocacy. Johnson is a tireless advocate for positive mental health and suicide prevention services for youth and adults, both at the national level and within the local community of Baltimore, MD, where he lives and works.
On a national level, Johnson leads efforts around suicide prevention with states, tribes, territories, and healthcare systems. He is a national leader in the integration of suicide prevention and health equity, as well as community-centered suicide prevention. He served as Director of Suicide Prevention for the State of Maryland, where he also worked on the topics of youth violence prevention and human trafficking.
Through a lens of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, Johnson focuses on identifying, understanding, and addressing cultural biases to ensure all people can enjoy fulfilling and joyful lives. At the Breakfast, he’ll also address how each of us can contribute to improving community mental health across various sectors and points of influence.