December 2025 | Issue 49



The Anne Arundel County Local Behavioral Health Authority or LBHA is a

partnership between the Anne Arundel County Department of Health

and the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, Inc.

If you are interested in subscribing to the Anne Arundel County LBHA

Provider Announcement Listserv, please email your request to

aac-lbha-connect@aacounty.org

For many, the holiday season is a time of joy. It is an opportunity to reflect on our many blessings and to enjoy those things that are most important for all of us: family, friends, and our community. However, for some, it can be a time of sadness or stress. The days are shorter this time of year, and cold weather keeps us indoors more often, which causes many to have the "Winter Blues".



Some things we can do to feel better this time of year include spending time outdoors, getting exercise and making time to socialize. The Crisis and Trauma Institute recommends "thinking like a Norwegian". Many in Norway have a positive mindset about winter, and look forward to the opportunity to do things such as spending time with friends by a fire, playing in snow, and drinking hot beverages. For some, symptoms of depression are more severe, leading to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Symptoms start in the Fall, and continue until Spring, and more women are affected than men. Some treatments for SAD include light therapy (phototherapy), talk therapy, and medications.

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Whether or not you celebrate, during this often hectic season, remember to take care of yourself, connect with friends and loved ones, and take time to do the things

that are meaningful and joyous for you.

If you are in crisis and need help, call 988 and our Warmline is open 24/7

at 410-768-5522.

The Anne Arundel County Behavioral Health Advisory Council

Next Virtual Meeting: December 16th

Established in 1999, members of the Behavioral Health Advisory Council (BHAC) include key stakeholders across the system committed to the utilization of the CCISC model and ensuring that Anne Arundel County provides an accessible, comprehensive behavioral health system for all residents.

 Participants on the council are co-chairs from Anne Arundel County Department of Health and Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, mental-health

and substance-use providers, hospital representatives, community members, cultural-organization representatives, and more. 

Their goal is to improve the mental wellness of all Anne Arundel County residents and assure access to needed services. Providers and referring agencies are empowered to successfully identify, refer and treat individuals with any Behavioral Health challenge. They provide input, direction, and influence on

behavioral health action planning in the county.

Meetings are held via Zoom.

All Anne Arundel County residents are welcome to attend,

however registration is required.

Next meeting: Tuesday, December 16th, 9:00 AM-10:30 AM ET

Download the Meeting Registration Link

Join the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County for a free virtual presentation of the 2025 Community Needs Assessment-Poverty Amidst Plenty VIII . This event offers an in-depth look at the strengths and challenges facing Anne Arundel County.

Dr. Pamela Brown, lead author of the report and respected data and policy expert, will present key findings and trends in the areas of education, health, housing, income, and the environment. Her presentation will help guide meaningful discussion and inform action across sectors.

She will also present summaries from the focus groups held at two earlier in-person sessions and answer questions during a live Q & A. Even if you attended previously, you are welcome to join again to ask new questions or

hear the focus group highlights.

Download the 2025 Community Needs Assessment Report

Tuesday, December 9th

10:00 AM-12:00 PM ET

Location: Virtual

Is your teen chatting with an AI “friend?” From late-night venting to homework help, the use of AI companions are becoming a part of everyday life for many tweens and teens. What does this mean for the ability to form real world friendships? What should parents and caregivers know about mental health and social development risks from the use of these types of AI technologies?

Join Children and Screens for this free webinar featuring a panel of researchers, psychologists, and child psychiatrists. They will share what is known about how youth use social AI companions, how that use may shape development, and practical ways to protect children from risks to mental health and safety.

Wednesday, December 10th,12:00 PM-1:30 PM ET. 

The Anne Arundel County Prevention Coalitions are hosting a Youth and Adult Listening Session to gain information about how our community perceives drugs and alcohol. The goals of this session are to identify factors contributing to substance misuse in Anne Arundel County to inform collaborative public health/substance use prevention activities and enhance capacity for effective prevention, to identify strategies using data collected to improve the utilization of community-level evidence-based approaches to prevention, and to identify the substance use, attitudes and perceptions of community members and youth in relation to prescription opioids alcohol and marijuana. 

Time and Date: Saturday, December 13th from 2:30 PM-4:00 PM ET

Location: Severna Park Library

Participants will receive lunch and a gift card

Each year, the Children’s Mental Health Matters Campaign features an annual poster contest. The winning artwork will be featured on the 2026 Children’s Mental Health Matters Campaign poster, reaching audiences statewide.

This year, the poster contest theme is No Judgment, Just Help, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988 is a vital resource for families and youth to get support when someone is struggling with problems like stress, depression, and anxiety.

All Maryland Students up to the age of 18 are invited to participate.

The contest deadline is February 6, 2026

12/3 Webinar: Leading by Example-Navigating the Internal Work of Being a Social Work Supervisor

12/4 Webinar: Implicit and Explicit Bias in the Workplace

12/4 Webinar: Eating Disorder Core Competencies for the Non-Specialist Clinician

12/5 Webinar: Youth Risk Behavior Assessment

12/5 Webinar: Gambling Disorder-Relationship to Suicide and Resources for Help

12/5 Webinar: Trauma Informed Practices for Responsive Social Work, with a Focus on Immigration Related Trauma

12/5 Webinar: Cannabis Use and the Older Adult

12/8 Introduction to Motivational Interviewing (Millersville)

12/10 Webinar: Ethics, Mandated Reporting, Social Justice, and Implicit Bias

12/10 Webinar: Infidelity and Affairs- Helping Couples Heal their Broken Hearts

12/12 Webinar: Implications of Implicit Bias

12/12 Webinar: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

12/12 Webinar: Accepting What Can't Be Changed and Changing What Can-When OCD and SUD Interact.

12/12 Webinar: Self-Care-Our Ethical Responsibility to Our Clients

12/12 Virtual Grief Informed Professional Certification Training: Supporting Clients Through Loss and Healing

12/12 &1/9 Two Part Webinar Series: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

12/17 Webinar: The Clinical Fundamentals of Autism-Screening and Affirming Play Therapy Treatment for Autistic Youth

12/19 Webinar: Ethics and Cultural Competence-Clinical Boundaries and Culturally Responsive Care for Black Women

12/3 Black and Suicidal Virtual Peer Support Group

12/3 Glen Burnie Town Center Tree Lighting

12/4 Presentation: Understanding and Dealing with Dementia Related Behaviors (Severna Park Library)

12/5 Free Webinar: Mental Health and the LGBTQ+ Community

12/9 Free Webinar: The Silent Epidemic-Understanding and Overcoming Loneliness

12/9 &12/10 Free Evening Training from Maryland ROPTA-Youth Mental Health First Aid

12/10 University of Maryland BWMC Support Group (Glen Burnie)

12/10 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group Meeting (Glen Burnie)

12/11 NAMI Anne Arundel Connection Support Group for Individuals Over 18 Who Have Experienced Mental Health Symptoms (Severna Park)

12/13 Santa on the B&A Trail

12/15 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group Meeting (Virtual)

12/16 Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Caregiver Support Group Meeting (Annapolis)

12/18 Free Webinar: Managing Holiday Stress

12/22 NAMI Anne Arundel Zoom Family Support Group for Adults with a Loved One who has Experienced Symptoms of a Mental Health Condition.

12/23 Virtual Opioid Overdose Response Narcan Training from the Prevention Coalitions of Anne Arundel County (Choose from 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM)