We at The REACH Institute wish to extend our heartfelt support to the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month.

The latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paints a distressing picture of the mental health crisis faced by LGBQ+ youth. This emphasizes the urgent need for acceptance, support, and gender-affirming mental health care.

In the year 2021 alone, among LGBQ+ youth:

45% seriously considered attempting suicide
Around 1 in 5 attempted suicide (22%)
All are significantly more likely to have worse mental health outcomes than their heterosexual peers

An alarming 60% of LGBTQ+ youth who sought mental healthcare were unable to access it, according to the Trevor Project's 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.

The REACH Institute is dedicated to increasing access to mental health care for all, especially vulnerable youth. Through our training, healthcare providers are equipped with the skills to identify and treat mental health symptoms early on, thereby reducing the long-term suffering of these children.

What does gender-affirming care look like in practice?

REACH previously hosted a webinar where a panel of five experts (including a transgender activist) discussed how to support LGBTQ+ patients in primary care settings. Please take a moment to watch it in honor of Pride Month.

Watch gender-affirming webinar

PPP Scholarship Recipients: Round 1

We're very proud to introduce you to the newest round of scholarship recipients for our Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) Program! Each one of these 15 healthcare professionals will pave new paths in mental health treatment in their respective underserved communities. Here are a few of our recipients. Meet the rest.

Diana Pontell, MD, a bilingual pediatrician in Wynnewood, PA speaks Spanish to over 75% of her patients.

Tanner Walsh, MD, a pediatrician working with a highly under-resourced community where over a third of people live in poverty.

Mikki Bouquet, MD, a pediatrician in Baton Rouge, LA, where more than 75% of her patients are enrolled in Medicaid.

Naziat Hassan, LMHC, LPC, a mental health clinician in Queens Village, NY, works with a high proportion of LGBTQIA youth.

Meet more scholarship recipients

NBC Boston:

REACH's Impact on Children's Mental Health

Watch this feature by NBC Boston about The REACH Institute! REACH CEO, Dr. Lisa Hunter Romanelli discusses the shortage of mental health professionals, the need to train more pediatric PCPs in evidence-based mental health therapies, and valuable free resources for parents.

Watch NBC Boston Interview

PPP Scholarship Opportunities

Applications for the second round of 2023 REACH Scholarships are open until July 2, so apply today or share with colleagues.

Atlanta PPP scholarships are also available for Sept 8-10 and Oct 13-15, 2023, and Jan 19-24, 2024. Apply now or share with colleagues practicing in the Greater Atlanta area.

Scholarships allow more pediatric primary care providers in underserved communities to participate in the REACH course Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care. Spread the word!

REACH in the News

To learn more about REACH's partnership with Resilient Georgia, a statewide coalition in Georgia, read this press release.
An article on the pros and cons of anxiety by REACH faculty member, Dr. James Wallace, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Rochester, was published on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) website.
REACH provided PPP training for the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center’s Outreach for Provider Education, or (COPE) program, in Nebraska. Read about it in the Omaha World-Herald.

Virtual PPP Training Dates in 2023

Can't make it in person to a training?

No problem. Take a comprehensive course on children's mental health in a pediatric primary care setting from the comfort of your office or home. Sign up to save a seat.

July 28-30	CDT Schedule
Sept 29-Oct 1	CDT Schedule
Nov 3-5	EDT Schedule

Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care:

Oct 13-15, 2023

After taking this course, participants will be able to identify behavioral health issues, effectively manage psychopharmacology, and implement treatment plans for adult patients.

The REACH Institute | Website

What does gender-affirming care look like in practice?

Adult Behavioral Health in Primary Care:

﻿Oct 13-15, 2023

Oct 13-15, 2023