Watch: Mayor Steinberg hosts discussion of how to meet mental health challenges of Covid19

An advocate for victims of domestic violence, a high school student leader and a mental health expert shared their perspectives on the mental health struggles people are having during the Covid19 shutdown in a Monday, April 14 Zoom forum hosted by Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

It’s the first in a series of forums Mayor Steinberg plans to host on the topic over the next week or so.

Click on the button to access resources shared by the forum participants, and watch the video of their discussion. Bios of each participant are included below.

Participants in the April 14 mental health discussion

Olivia Ang Olson, student board member, Sacramento City Unified School District

Olivia Ang-Olson, a senior at C.K. McClatchy High School, was elected by her peers to serve as student board member for the 2019-20 school year. She was selected as a state finalist for the student board position on the California State Board of Education, and she currently serves as the Region 2 President of the CA Association of Student Councils.

An advocate for greater student representation in public education, Ang-Olson continues to work with Sacramento grassroots organizations and youth councils that support and defend student rights and voices. As a student at McClatchy High School, Ms. Ang-Olson also founded her school’s Model United Nations team to share her enthusiasm for international relations and public speaking. She also plays on the CKM Varsity Women’s Tennis Team, for which she serves as team captain.

Faith Whitmore, Executive Director, Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center

As a United Methodist pastor, a community leader, a former nonprofit executive with Francis House Center, and most recently, District Director for one of our Congressional members, Faith has a heart for service. She currently serves as executive director of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center, which helps domestic violence victims escape from their abusive situations and start over.

David Bain, executive drector, NAMI Sacramento

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Sacramento offers support groups, education classes, advocacy and outreach presentations for people living with mental illness and their families. All of its services are delivered at no cost to the participant. NAMI prides itself on being a grass roots, membership based organization. As executive director, Bain manages the day-to-day operations, fundraising and outreach opportunities for the organization.