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“You’re a strong black woman, just deal with it.” “Pray about it and everything will be fine.” These are two phrases that were preached to me from a very young age. I would bet my last dollar that if I stop any African American woman on the street and ask her, she has...

Peer Support Specialist Leslie Saunders says that stigma is rampant within the African American community. “With the efforts, at best, we are just touching the surface,” he said. Many people feel shame and choose to try to get better on their own. They attempt to...

Parent Network of WNY is a not-for-profit agency that provides education and resources for families of individuals with special needs (birth through adulthood) and for professionals. The agency provides one-on-one support and education through resources, workshops and...

As a Buffalo firefighter for the past 24 years, Dan Milovich has witnessed trauma, injury, and destruction, and is often in dangerous situations. Firefighters, like other first responders, often keep their emotions bottled up and may struggle with mental health...

I’ve started and erased this story at least a half-dozen times. It’s not that the words don’t flow, it’s just that I get anxious talking about my anxiety because I get anxious about nearly everything. Far too much of my life has been wasted leaving terrible thoughts...

Karl Shallowhorn, education program coordinator at the Community Health Center of Buffalo, has been elected chair of the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition. Jessica C. Pirro, LMSW, chief executive officer of Crisis Services, has been named vice chair. Both are founding...

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation is a family foundation with two core funding areas - education and mental health. The Foundation’s primary investments in education are through its scholarship programs in science, technology, engineering, and math. In mental health, the...

The Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition has received a $3,000 gift from the Aquino Family Foundation to support the Join the Conversation campaign. The Aquino Family Foundation funds a wide range of non-profit organizations and initiatives in the areas of health,...

We recently spoke with Mary Skorupa, Executive Director, Children's Mental Health Coalition of WNY, Inc. whose organization is a founding member of the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition.Q: What is the mission of your organization? The Children's Mental Health...

For some young people, going back to school is an exciting time of new challenges and having fun with friends. But for other students, it can be a stressful period of change resulting in serious mental health challenges. Starting at a new school, entering a new grade,...