Peer Services in Mental Health Care

Aging with Serious Mental Health Conditions

People aging with mental health conditions face complex issues including an increased risk of accelerated aging. In this episode series host Dr. Michelle Zechner is interviewed and shares her perspectives about issues and services needed.

LGBTQ+ Mental Health

In this episode we discuss mental health needs and services for people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Peer Services in Mental Health Care

This episode explores peer-provided services for people with mental health conditions. Peer Support Services, or services offered by people who have experienced similar life challenges and who have completed specialized training, are integral to mental health programs. Research shows that peer services provide hope and inspiration and can reduce hospitalization rates. Dr. Amy Spagno, the Project Director for the New York State Office of Mental Health funded Academy of Peer Services, an online training, testing, and tracking platform for the certification of peer support specialists, and three Peer Supporters, Rita Cronise, Matthew McDonald and Maryam Husamudeen, share their thoughts on who is a peer, what peer services look like, why peer services are essential and what the future of peer services may include.

Supported Education Services

Supported Education is an intervention that helps people living with serious mental health conditions to successfully graduate from academic programs. The model connects with college students with serious mental health conditions, to teach academic success skills and to offer support to help them graduate.

Coordination of Care

In this episode we speak to Dr. Tameika Minor about integrated health and behavioral health care or offering physical and behavioral health care services in a comprehensive and combined manner.