Video: Dean Lindsey Moderates Congressmembers’ Roundtable on Mental Health

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ, May 22, 2023 — Days after Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman reintroduced the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act in the House of Representatives, NYU Silver Dean Michael A. Lindsey moderated a roundtable featuring the Congresswoman, bill co-sponsor Congressman Andy Kim and Senate sponsor Senator Bob Menendez on how best to provide the resources necessary to tackle the mental health crisis in America. 

Held at Rider University, in Lawrenceville, NJ, the roundtable was followed by a listening session, facilitated by Dean Lindsey, with mental health advocates and organizations who were invited to attend. 

In welcoming remarks, Dean Lindsey, who led the working group of experts that supported the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, cited data on the country’s growing mental health crisis, particularly among young people and especially among Black, LGBTQ and female students.

Dean Lindsey expressed gratitude to Congresswoman Watson Coleman, Congressman Kim, and Senator Menendez for hosting the discussion and recognizing the gravity of the situation.

“The Crisis we were facing had been festering for years before COVID hit and since then it has only grown worse,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “The isolation caused by being forced indoors for months; witnessing parents, grandparents, and loved ones die; the general stress that comes with the loss of jobs and the increase in diseases of despair all impacted our young people. Many of those young people did not have access to the resources they needed to cope. We have an opportunity, right now, to address this crisis and get a generation of young people the help they so desperately need.”

Access Congresswoman Watson Coleman’s announcement about the event as well as media coverage from Central Jersey Newspapers and WRNJ Radio. Video of the event is below and is available on YouTube.