MAMH Blog
The Future is Inclusive: Reflections as We Head Into Summer
Jul 1, 2025
It’s been a few busy months at MAMH. We know every small victory in a Legislator’s office and every large-scale conference gets us one step closer to our goal - full inclusion in our communities for all people at risk for or living with behavioral health conditions.
When Clifford Beers founded MAMH in 1913 as part of an international “mental hygiene” movement, he was a man with a vision – a world where stigma is eradicated, discrimination is eliminated, access to the treatment supports people want is achieved, and recovery is possible. That vision is our inspiration.
Spring was busy at MAMH, as it traditionally is with the Massachusetts Executive and Legislative branches working on the state budget, and with numerous legislative bills in play. May was also Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when MAMH is engaged in public messaging and policy conferences designed to improve understanding and reduce stigma to end discrimination and improve care. Calendars are packed and Zoom meetings seem to be scheduling themselves.
But we know that mental health and well being don’t happen in a vacuum. Our work is rooted in the knowledge that economic and social factors are critical factors. Being a mental health advocate also means you’re an advocate for safe and affordable housing; access to health insurance and a living wage; an end to racial profiling and discrimination; and diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of community life.
This Pride Month, we’re aware that even the state budget of our dreams can’t do much to support marginalized communities if we don’t first acknowledge their struggle. Gay, nonbinary, and transgender individuals can thrive with the help of supportive families, communities, and peers. However, they face new political and legal challenges to their identities an ability to live and love fully.
Even before the current environment threatened hard-won advancements, the experience of discrimination, harassment, and lack of quality health care carried a significant mental health impact. This results in much higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide for youth and adults who struggle to be accepted for who they are. These systemic and societal failings need addressing – not just in June – but in the months and years to come.
[You can find more details about the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Massachusetts in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s latest Community Health Equity Survey (CHES).]
This Pride Month, MAMH is doubling down on our commitment to improve mental health outcomes through acceptance, inclusion, and support. Let’s keep alive the vision for a more just and equitable world that protects our well being and promotes our mental health.
Some Important History: LGBTQIA+ as an Acronym
Resources
LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual with the “+” representing other gender expressions and sexual orientations.
Better Health with Collaborative Care: Integrating Behavioral Health Care with Primary Care
Events
Last month, MAMH co-hosted – with our friends at the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum – a forum on collaborative care.
Beyond Mental Health Month: Advancing Access and Equity for All
Leading Change
At the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH), Mental Health Awareness Month is more than a moment—it’s a movement.
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