Mental Health

The Mental Health Workgroup has launched a 10-month art and mental wellness-based campaign:

From the Heart: Creative expressions in mental wellness

Mental health is health.

Mental health refers to the psychological state of wellbeing, and it directly impacts our physical health. Mental illnesses can disrupt the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that influence our wellbeing.

To impact our community’s mental health, we must educate all Frederick County residents to understand that “mental health” is “health.” To do this, we must remove the stigma surrounding mental health as well as increase access to mental health services and treatments.

icon of brain made of puzzle pieces

What’s the state of mental health?

• 34,268 adults (16.4%) reported that they had at least 8 days of “not good mental health” per month in 2019.

• After several years of trending steadily, there was an increase between 2018 and 2019

What’s the good news?

Mental health disorders are common, treatable, and in some cases, preventable

What factors influence mental health?

arrow pointing downwards with a negative symbol

Risk Factors:

  • Genetics

  • Biology

  • Environment

  • Lifestyle

arrow pointing upwards with a positive symbol

Protective Factors:

  • Supportive, positive relationships

  • Lifestyle

  • Environment

  • Resources

Subcommittees

Community Engagement/Anti-Stigma Subcommittee

Vision Statement: Frederick County is a community where mental health is accepted as an important component of overall health, where residents feel comfortable seeking mental health services, and where residents with mental health concerns are treated with respect and dignity. 

Subcommittee Goal: All Frederick County residents are aware that mental health is health and know how to access and receive mental health care. Mental health is health and viewed by the community as an essential and acceptable piece of an individual’s overall healthcare considerations. Reducing stigma is essential to the achievement of both of these goals.

Suicide Prevention Subcommittee

Vision Statement: Frederick County has a sustainable and responsive Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Subcommittee Goal: Eliminate suicide in Frederick County (Zero Suicide Model).

Workforce Development/Capacity Building Subcommittee

Vision Statement: 

  • Mental health treatment slots are available regardless of insurance status at the time an individual seeks services.

  • Individuals have reliable access to services in their native language, either directly or by certified interpreter.

Subcommittee Goal: Frederick County residents will be able to access the full continuum of culturally competent, trauma-informed, high-quality mental health treatment services in a timely manner, through an increased capacity of mental health professionals and other trained support persons (i.e., Recovery Coaches, Community Health Outreach Workers) who can offer services.

Interested in joining? Contact us.

Meets on 3rd Tuesday of the month: 1pm to 2:30pm

Workgroup Leadership

Mary Lynn Hinde

Workgroup Lead
Trauma Responsive Frederick, Vice President

Melissa Carpenter
Frederick Health, Care Transition Coordinator and Community Health Team Lead & Community Health Worker

Catherine DiGennaro
Frederick County Division of Human Resources, Human Resources Administrator

Neil Donnelly
On Our Own of Frederick, Executive Director

Alan Feinberg
Community Member & Mental Health Advocate

Kelsea Kephart (Scates)
The Orenda Center, Executive Director & Co-Founder

Sharon MacDougall
Community Member & Mental Health Advocate

Leslie Ruby
Community Member & Mental Health Advocate

Laura Sherwood
Transformative Arts Project, Founder

Staff Representative Coordinators

Summer McClellan
LHIP Mental Health Workgroup Coordinator
Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County

Ashley Bennett
LHIP Program Manager
Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County

Malcolm Furgol
Executive Director
Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County

Join Our Workgroup