Cultivating a Culture of Connection through Community-Designed Initiatives

Women Arise

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called for action to address the public health crisis and the devastating impact of the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in the United States. Dr. Murthy explains that disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health. He also states that loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives.

Through funding from SAMHSA’s Transformation Transfer Initiative, NASMHPD has partnered with peer-run and community-designed initiatives to serve diverse populations, including those experiencing trauma in their daily lives and individuals struggling with serious mental health challenges.

This Town Hall series will provide an opportunity for discussion and implementation of the six foundational pillars outlined by Dr. Murthy’s important report. Click here to view the report.

Town Hall One: Deepening trauma-informed knowledge, faith leaders are providing innovative programs that restore connection to self and others. The TAMAR program, originally funded by SAMHSA, provides weekly groups focused on understanding the impact of trauma on all aspects of our lives, offering connection, healing, community, and hope.

National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors: https://www.nasmhpd.org/content/nasmhpds-center-innovation-health-policy-and-practice

Triumph Over Trauma: https://TriumphOverTrauma.INFO

Friendship Bench (Charryse N. Wright): https://www.friendshipbenchzimbabwe.org/

Winning Wealth, Netzer: Ministries of David S. Smith

Peer Lifeline (Arsania Wright) https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/mentalhealth/documents/Lifeline_FBI_Contact_Maps_011023.pdf