The Metro Public Health Department is hosting its first Music City Behavioral Health and Wellness Summit on April 23-24 in Nashville, featuring Patrick J. Kennedy as keynote speaker. The event aims to discuss mental health challenges and solutions, engaging local stakeholders and offering workshops on critical topics concerning substance use and harm reduction. Registration is free, promoting community participation towards enhancing mental health resources.
The Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) is set to host the inaugural Music City Behavioral Health and Wellness Summit on April 23 and 24 at Riverside Nashville. This pivotal event will feature the Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, a former U.S. Representative renowned for his advocacy in mental health care, as the keynote speaker. Gathering local leaders and stakeholders, the summit aims to tackle the pressing mental health issues plaguing the community while exploring collaborative solutions. Dr. Gill Wright, Director of Health, expressed the MPHD’s commitment, stating, “The Metro Public Health Department is making a big investment in the mental health of our community. With expanded mental health services soon being offered through MPHD, we feel it is important to invite community stakeholders to gather to ensure we all understand our roles and how we can work together to help more people protect, improve and sustain their health.” The event will unfold over two distinctive days, with April 23 featuring insightful talks from Kennedy and Nashville’s Mayor, Freddie O’Connell. O’Connell will also initiate discussions on April 24, leading into a day filled with workshops addressing critical topics such as Xylazine, Fentanyl, harm reduction strategies, and the epidemiological effects of substance misuse. In the words of Mayor O’Connell, “Most of us know someone who has been impacted by a mental health or substance use challenge, but in that moment of crisis, may not know what to do or where to turn for support. In 2023, more than 700 of our neighbors, friends and family members died from a suspected drug overdose. Those deaths were preventable. Conversations like the one we will have at the Music City Behavioral Health and Wellness Summit are critical components to increasing awareness of the resources and support available in our community and creating a more resilient, healthy Nashville where preventable deaths are prevented.” Registration for the summit is open and free, encouraging proactive participation from the community. Attendees needing accommodations are invited to reach out via email at [email protected].
Mental health has emerged as a pressing concern in communities across the nation, characterized by the ongoing challenges of substance misuse and lack of accessible support systems. The Music City Behavioral Health and Wellness Summit symbolizes a collective step toward addressing these issues through dialogue and collaboration among local leaders and stakeholders. The event serves as a platform not only to highlight pressing concerns like addiction but also to foster a stronger support network within Nashville, aiming to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders.
The inaugural Music City Behavioral Health and Wellness Summit aims to create a collaborative environment where diverse stakeholders can engage in vital conversations about mental health in Nashville. Through insightful discussions led by key figures like Patrick J. Kennedy and Mayor Freddie O’Connell, the summit strives to illuminate urgent community challenges while paving the way for innovative solutions and greater awareness of available resources. With free registration available, it presents an inviting opportunity to amplify voices in the pursuit of a healthier, more supportive community.
Original Source: www.nashville.gov
