The Aspen Institute

Depression and anxiety in adolescents is surging. Young people need tailored solutions for their unique experiences and identities and mental health providers are at capacity.

YOU’RE INVITED TO FIND SOLUTIONS

Join the Aspen Health Innovators Fellowship as we bring together Fellows and experts to explore strategies in response to the adolescent mental health crisis in a five-part dialogue series. We’ll talk the latest research and strategies to engage young people.

The first dialogue is a primer on the state of adolescent mental health and was held on March 9 3:30-4:30pm ET. 

WHO CAN ATTEND

This series is open to anyone. While we encourage you to attend all five sessions, it is not required.

SESSION 1 SPEAKERS

Moderated by: Bruny Kenou, an aspiring physician born in Togo, West Africa, who grew up in New Jersey. Her lived experience with mental illness has made her an advocate for fighting stigma and increasing access to adequate mental health care for marginalized populations. She graduated from Duke University in 2020 with Distinction in Neuroscience and minors in Psychology and Chemistry. She currently works in the Molecular Neuroimaging Lab of Dr. Robert Innis at the National Institute of Mental Health.

John MacPhee is the CEO of The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. JED partners with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems, and equips teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other.

Dr. Atul Nakhasi, MD, MPP, serves as Director for Science & Policy for the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. In December 2021, the Office released its U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory “Protecting Youth Mental Health”, declaring the crisis an urgent public health issue requiring a whole-of-society effort. Dr. Nakhasi also serves as a primary care physician and cares for many of his patient’s mental health struggles within the LA County safety-net health system. Dr. Nakhasi attended Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he was named a Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership. He has been featured in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, ABC World News, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and CNN. He originally hails from Iowa, born and raised in the heartland.

Dr. Daniel Eisenberg is a health economist and professor at University of California, Los Angeles. His goal is to improve understanding of how to invest effectively in the mental health of young people. He is a Principal Investigator for the Healthy Minds Network (www.healthymindsnetwork.org) and is writing a book about investments in children’s mental health.

SESSIONS 2-5 TAKE PLACE FROM MARCH THROUGH JULY ON THURSDAY AFTERNOONS – UPCOMING SESSIONS INCLUDE:

Session 2: Community Spotlight: Native American Youth | April 6, 3:00-4:00PM ET

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Session 3: Community Spotlight: Black Youth | May 11, 3:00-4:00PM ET

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Session 4: Community Spotlight: LGBT+ Youth | June 1, 3:00-4:00PM ET

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Session 5: Community Spotlight: Latinx Youth | July 13, 3:00-4:00PM ET

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ABOUT THE ASPEN HEALTH INNOVATORS FELLOWSHIP

The Health Innovators Fellowship’s mission is to develop a community of energized, values-driven leaders committed to finding viable solutions to confront U.S. health care’s problems.

The Fellowship offers high-performing professionals a unique experience—the ability to connect with and learn from a diverse group of peers with whom they wouldn’t ordinarily interact while refining their own values and charting a course that empowers them to take action in new ways to improve health and health care in America. Fellows come from a wide variety of industries and sectors, ranging from medicine to venture capital to public health and beyond. Learn More