Sen. Jehlen Sponsors Mental Health Citizen’s Breakfast

More than 300 persons with mental illness and their families, providers and advocates recently met with state representatives over breakfast in the Great Hall at the State House—thanks in part to sponsorship of the gathering by Senator Pat Jehlen.

A press release from Sen. Jehlen summed up the annual Massachusetts Department of Mental Health North East Area Citizen's Legislative Breakfast this way:

“This is an opportunity for the mental health community—consumers, families, providers and advocates—to meet with their legislators, thank them for their support and discuss with them the many services DMH provides to individuals with serious mental illness,” said Commissioner Barbara A. Leadholm, M.S., M.B.A.

The theme of this year’s Dept. of Mental Health breakfast series was “Community First and Our Future.” The event’s centerpiece is the personal stories shared by DMH consumers and their families. Their experiences put a face on mental illness, demonstrate that treatment works and remind us that people with mental illness can achieve important accomplishments and most importantly, recover and lead satisfying and productive lives.