With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, many nonprofit organizations are working to support those living with mental or behavioral health issues. To help reduce the stigma and raise awareness about the support services available to South Florida residents, the United Way of Broward County, in collaboration with the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), will be hosting its 8th Annual Behavioral Health Conference: “The Power of Prevention” on May 9 and May 10 at the Signature Grand in Davie. The event will feature renowned psychologists, professors, trauma and grief specialists, leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) experts, and prevention specialists who will provide crucial information about behavioral/mental health and related topics.
Local programs available to support mental health include
- United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention (UWBCCBH): A broad-based substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion coalition dedicated to reducing negative consequences on individuals, families, and communities. The organization hosts numerous town hall meetings/events about mental health awareness, suicide prevention and other related topics and launches multiple campaigns throughout the year that inform residents that “It’s OK to Not be OK” and to DIAL 211 or 988 for help.
- NAMI Broward County: NAMI Broward County’s mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals and their families affected by mental illness through education, support, and advocacy. Programs and support groups provide free education, skills training, and support for those living with or supporting a loved one with a mental illness.
- 211 Broward: 211 Broward’s mission is to provide a 24-hour comprehensive helpline and support services to individuals and families in our community seeking crisis intervention assistance and information and connections to health and human services in Broward County.
- Broward Behavioral Health Coalition: BBHC provides a comprehensive system of care for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders for individuals in Broward County. As a nonprofit organization, BBHC also manages local and national grants to develop evidence-based practices and practice improvement for providers and persons served.
For more information on the Behavioral Health Conference, visit Unitedwaybroward.org/events/8th-annual-behavioral-health-conference.
