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Mental Health Symposium

Exploring Our Internal and External Ecosystems

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is proud to invite you to our first Mental Health Symposium!

This free, one-day Symposium will provide participants with content related to college mental health, health promotions, sustainability, and intersectionality. This opportunity is recommended for college mental health professionals and health promotions specialists but is offered to other campus community participants as well. Breakfast, lunch, CEU's and networking opportunities will be provided. 

We are sorry but registration for this event has now closed.

Save the Date:

March 7, 2025
9 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
SUNY ESF Campus
Syracuse, N.Y.

Check back for more details as the symposium approaches!

Hotel Options

The following hotels are within a short drive or ride-share distance from SUNY ESF:

Parking

Free parking will be available in the Standart Street Parking Lot with overflow in lot P-22.  From there it is a short walk up onto campus.  Please note, there will be steps and hills associated with this walk.  If you have any accessibility needs, please let us know in advance. Also check out the Campus Parking and Accessibility Map

Check the Campus Map and Directions for parking and main conference locations.

Continuing Education Information

NYSED CEUs are provided by the UB School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. 4 live in-person contact hours are approved for LMSW/LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, LCAT, and PSY. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance.

Offered in collaboration with the UB School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education; recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0001. 4 live in-person contact hours are approved. Full attendance is required. No partial credit is given for partial attendance.

Offered in collaboration with the UB School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education; recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0007. 4 live in-person contact hours are approved. Full attendance is required. No partial credit is given for partial attendance.

Offered in collaboration with the UB School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education; recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists #CAT-0003. 4 live in-person contact hours are approved. Full attendance is required. No partial credit is given for partial attendance.

Offered in collaboration with the UB School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education; recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0062. 4 live in-person contact hours are approved. Full attendance is required. No partial credit is given for partial attendance.

Schedule

Time

Program

Location

8 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast

Gateway Auditorium

9 a.m.

Welcome

Gateway Auditorium

9:30 a.m.

Cultivating Your Inner Ecosystem: Self-Preservation and Compassion in Mental Health: Whitney Dodds, MA, LPC, LMHC 

  • This keynote will explore the concept of mental health through the lens of an ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of self-preservation, self-care, and self-compassion. Participants will learn how to create and sustain an environment conducive to mental wellness, drawing parallels between natural ecosystems and personal mental health practices. The session will also highlight the role of community as part of a healthy ecosystem and discuss strategies for balancing personal well-being with social and professional engagement.

Gateway Auditorium

10:30 a.m.

Break

 

10:45 a.m.

Breakout Sessions:

Mental Health and Illness: Stephen J. Glatt, PhD | 5 Illick Hall

  • Participants will learn about the contribution of nature (genes) and nurture (environment) to major mental illness. This presentation will discuss the biological cascade from DNA to behavior.

Counselor Self Care: Not a One-Size-Fits-All: Claudette Brown-Smythe, PhD, LMHC, ACS, NCC | 408 Baker Hall

  • Counselors may be seen as duplicitous because they encourage clients to incorporate self-care into their daily routines for improved overall wellness; however, counselors often do not practice what they preach. This experiential presentation will use Myers and Sweeney’s (2005) The Indivisible Self: An Evidence-Based Model of Wellness to promote reflection on counselors' self-care activities. It will also cover strategies for developing self-care habits and provide a sample of activities counselors can integrate into their everyday lives.   

From Pressure to Possibility: Mental Health, Leadership, and Change in our Communities: Eric McGriff | 24 Marshall Hall

  • In a world where stress, social expectations, and systemic barriers often feel overwhelming, how can we transform pressure into possibility? This interactive session explores the powerful connections between mental health, leadership, and community change. Together, we’ll unpack the unique challenges faced by young leaders, men and boys, people of color, and college students—communities often expected to “push through” without the support they deserve. Through discussion, reflection, and experiential exercises, we’ll challenge harmful narratives about strength and resilience, explore what it means to lead with authenticity and care, and co-create strategies for building communities where everyone thrives. Whether you’re a student leader, mentor, advocate, or simply someone looking to make an impact, this session will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to turn pressure into possibility.

Different rooms around campus

Noon

Lunch

Gateway Auditorium

1 p.m.

Breakout Sessions:

Cannabis Conversations with College Students: Sarah Magowan and Marissa Whitaker | 24 Marshall Hall

  • The cannabis landscape is ever-evolving, leaving many professionals in a position of playing catch-up with research, laws, and trends. This presentation will discuss the nuances and complexities of cannabis, trends in the field, and how harm reduction allows for more inclusive conversations with college students.

Healing at the Intersections: Community-Based Approaches to Mental Health: Rachel Johnson, LMSW, MFT | Marshall Auditorium

  • This interactive session will explore the intersectionality of mental health, emphasizing how race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other social identities impact mental well-being. We will examine how community-based practices can offer culturally responsive and accessible mental health support. Participants will engage in discussions and experiential exercises to understand the power of collective healing and practical strategies for fostering mental wellness within diverse communities.

 

Marshall Hall

2 p.m.

Break 

 

2:15 p.m.

Sustainability Panel: Paul Corsi; Morgan Ingraham, M.S.; Rochelle Strassner , Janet Lewis, M.D.

  • This moderated panel discussion will bring experts from the sustainability field to discuss the importance of sustainability efforts, especially during an environmental crisis, and how impactful it can be for a student’s mental wellness process.  Panelists will answer questions and provide insight on how to foster a culture of sustainability that participants can take back to their institutions.  Time for questions and answers will be provided.

Gateway Auditorium

3:00 p.m.

Closing remarks

Gateway Auditorium

3:30 p.m.

Networking hour
Appetizer & dessert bar

Gateway Auditorium