Greetings from the MHLC…

Dr. Chris Miller, Adjunct Professor in the School of Clinical Psychology at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA, is our October Mental Health Literacy (MHL) Champion. A passionate advocate for youth mental health, Dr. Miller brings a unique perspective that bridges faith-based care, education, public policy, the arts, and community wellness.

His work spans local, state, and national levels, with a strong focus on improving mental health literacy and ensuring safe, supportive environments for youth. Dr. Miller serves on multiple boards including as co-chair for Mental Wellness Special Interest Group, American Alliance for Theater and Education and the Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Intervention Workgroup, and as Chair of Council on Mental Illness, National Catholic Partnership on Disability. Notably, Dr. Miller authored the 2021 California legislation that requires mental health education as a component of school health classes in middle and high schools.

Dr. Miller continues to lead efforts in this space and will soon be among the first in the country to train as an MHL Aware Facilitator, advancing the next generation of mental health education to serve his local education community.

📺 Watch this short video from the Steinberg Institute to learn more about Dr. Miller’s advocacy for mental health education in California. [Content Warning: Mentions of suicidal ideation]

MHL Aware Leadership Training Testimonial

Thinking about bringing MHL Aware Leadership training to your school or community? Check out what Scott Hutchins from the Michigan Department of Education had to say:

What sets this team apart is their collaborative and client-centered approach. They took the time to understand our goals and tailored the experience to meet our needs.The training itself exceeded my expectations. The content was insightful, relevant, and immediately applicable to both our personal and professional lives—precisely the outcome I was hoping for. I highly recommend MHL Aware Leadership Workshop to any organization seeking to deepen their understanding of mental health literacy in a practical and meaningful way. Working with the MHLC Team was a seamless and enriching experience from start to finish.

Scott Hutchins | School Behavioral Health Unit Supervisor| Michigan Department of Education Office of Health and Safety

To learn more about this opportunity, reach out to info@themhlc.org.

MHL belongs in Every School and Community

Mental health literacy belongs in every school and community. Kicking the can down the road doesn’t mean you won’t eventually have to pick it up. Ignoring mental health doesn’t make the problem disappear. It just delays the potential impact, often making it harder to manage later.

Teaching mental health literacy early helps students and communities better understand themselves and others. It reduces stigma, encourages support, and gives people the tools to ask for help when and if they ever need it.

The earlier we talk about it, the easier it becomes to handle, and the lighter the load for everyone. Let’s not kick the can down the road one more day. Let’s start the conversation and begin building mental health literacy into the fabric of every community.

Join us in Orlando for our 3rd annual MHLC in person meeting as a pre-conference session of the Advancing School Mental Health Conference.

WHO? school and community leaders, educators, researchers, mental health professionals, policy and advocacy voices, and all champions for mental health education.

WHAT? The "C" in our name stands for Collaborative and that’s why this meeting is all about collaboration. Each year we look back on our progress, connect (in real life!) on existing and new initiatives, and we look toward the future of MHLC.

COST? It's FREE to attend, but registration is required! REGISTER HERE

TENTATIVE AGENDA available by email: Annie@themhlc.org.

The Mental Health Literacy Collaborative is a project of Players Philanthropy Fund, Inc., (“PPF”), a Texas nonprofit corporation with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178, ppf.org/pp). Contributions to The Mental Health Literacy Collaborative qualify as tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Questions? Suggestions? Email us at info@themhlc.org