What is the state of mental health care in our region right now?

What’s the status of care delivery in a pandemic? What stigmas do people experience that worsen their issue?  How does culture play a role in a person’s capability to heal or have access to care? 

These were the questions for our guest this week, a veteran mental health professional for decades in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

We discussed what it means to bring dignity and compassion to those suffering from, in many cases, a ponoply of mental health, addiction and personal issues that manifest themsleves into an overwhelming downward spiral.

They are our friends and family. Socio-economics, race, gender, creed, none alleviates the risk of a mental health episode.  And all wo come to a place like the Dana Day-treatment program exhibit a critical need for themselves and everyone around them.  

Morgan Ban-Draoi, MA, CAGS, LMHC, LADC1

Morgan is Program Manager for the Dana Day-Treatment Program at the Quabbin Retreat in Petersham.  Morgan has served as Clinical Supervisor for bereavement staff at Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island, and more recently, for the Center for Human Development in Greenfield.  Morgan received her Master’s Degree in Holistic Counseling and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Mental Health from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island and has been a licensed mental health clinician in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts since 2010.  Morgan is also a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LADC) through the Massachusetts Department of Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Treatment.  

Welcome to the home of SMG’s ‘Are We Here Yet?’ Podcast.  We seek to produce vibrant storytelling from the entrepreneurs, creative-class warriors and dynamic citizens that collectively tell the story of modern-day America.

Add to that special tidbits like our Essays, The JazzRoom, Special Features and more.  We hope you find enlightenment and entertainment in each episode we present.

About our Hosts:

Scott M. Graves is the founder of SMGraves Creative Enterprises.  Most recently he was executive director of the Wachusett Business Incubator where the SMG team experimented with various programming to overcome the meaningless ‘ribbon cutting’ experiences so synonymous with much of our nation’s  well-intentioned economic development.   He is known for a steadfast resolve for intellectual rigor and business strategy.  Nothing makes Scott feel more fulfilled than to help other develop their own unique creativity which leads to fulfillment in work and life.  His team is currently partnering with The Worcshop, the east coasts largest industrial makerspace to develop the Worc-It Business Lab for incubating new business.  

An entrepreneur in his own right, Scott previously operated the former Smash Music. Along with ImageIdentity’s David Lubelczyk their team developed Leadership Candidates Program for immersive support of new enterprise and Business Triage, a direct response to the issues now exacerbated for small businesses since the spread of Covid-19.