RC SELPA Mental Health Symposium

This course will explore practical ways of distributing mental health resources to diverse populations which are typically underserved and often marginalized. These populations of interest include youth, the LGBTQ and Trans community, veterans, the homeless, victims of violence and of domestic and sexual abuse, recent and culturally isolated immigrants, individuals and families with both limited resources and access to mental health services, cultural groups within which utilization of mental health services is highly stigmatized, Native Americans and other people of color with limited access to services, non-English speakers, prison and jail populations, rural residents, and other populations and individuals who are "otherized" and may not feel safe or comfortable accessing mental health services through traditional channels. Cutting across these groups is a trending, equalizing phenomenon of digital access by these populations; this self-empowered access will be investigated with respect to utilization of social media platforms and other means of online access for locating and connecting with providers, resources, and specialized services offering mental, emotional and relational support.