National Program Discusses Importance of Black People and Mental Health & Wellness Amid COVID
The COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellness Program takes center stage with Black, Brown, and marginalized communities with a national program launch for RER Consulting Enterprise, LLC.
In October, RER was awarded a grant for the COVID-19 Mental Health & Wellness Program© to help Miami-Dade County residents navigate the mental health challenges the pandemic intensified. The test market program provided a scorecard based on four key indicators of mental health and wellness after a brief, evidence-informed questionnaire, then connected participants to additional mental health and environmental supports.
Founder and CEO Ruban Roberts developed the program after questioning the disproportionalities in mental health care, medical care, and environmental factors the pandemic magnified.
"How do we create a system where we can help people holistically? We need to fix the system instead of continuing to research the same issues yielding the same results. The goal should be to create solutions that will reverse these disparities."Ruban Roberts
To meet that need, RER partnered with New Horizons Community Mental Health Center, Barry University, and other community-based organizations. The program was free to Miami-Dade County residents and offered a wide range of direct and referral services, with the county serving as the test market for a national launch.
The program featured
- A Mental Health & Wellness Assessment Scorecard© (MHWAS)
- Access to the care coordination team for mental health services and referrals
- Services offered in English, Spanish, and Creole
- A speaker seminar series featuring leading experts in mental health
Roberts noted that when the program started in October, the team saw anxiety, depression, and stress levels rise from low and moderate before the November COVID-19 surge to moderate and high as the holiday season began.
"Participants feel heard, seen, and respected. This program addresses the whole person with a focus on emotional, social, and environmental needs. You can't treat a person that is hungry without feeding them first."Ruban Roberts
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