Learn to recognize behavior changes in family, friends and coworkers and understand how to support them. St. Tammany Parish has battled addiction and high suicide rates for decades with the pandemic further affecting mental health conditions. Mary Burckell with Safe Haven and Monique Gregoire and Nick Richard, both with NAMI St. Tammany, will discuss the pandemic?s effects on mental health conditions (especially in the workforce) and provide ways to identify behaviors and obtain resources for those needing them.

Mary Burckell is Safe Haven Director and has worked on the Safe Haven Project—the Parish-owned continuum of care behavioral health campus—since 2018. Parish President Cooper appointed Mary the Director of Health and Human Services. She has a passion to improve behavioral health treatment and hopes to lead the Safe Haven campus into a new phase while staying true to Safe Haven’s vision. Mary earned her undergraduate degree—Bachelor of Arts—from Loyola University in New Orleans, and her Master of Education from Wilmington University.
 
Monique Gregoire has been with NAMI St. Tammany since 2017 and serves as the Outreach Specialist, promoting mental health awareness throughout our community. She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a BA in Mass Communication and has over 15 years of experience in both corporate and non-profit settings. In addition to her outreach duties, Monique runs the NAMI St. Tammany transportation department, the Christmas Angels event, and the annual NAMIWalks St. Tammany fundraiser.
 
Since December 2008, Nick Richard has served as the Executive Director of NAMI St. Tammany (National Alliance on Mental Illness). During his tenure, he has built strong community relationships with law enforcement, mental health care providers, and community leaders. He has assisted in the creation of the 22nd Judicial District Specialty Courts, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team, and St. Tammany Parish Government’s Safe Haven initiative. Nick is an active member of the community and involved in initiatives that work to improve services and resources for families and persons with a mental illness.