By Emily R. Evans
The Truth Reporter
On Thursday July 31, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)– Greater Toledo held its 12th annual conference to enlighten the public about the program and how it can assist the community.
Since 1983, NAMI of Greater Toledo has been supporting thousands of families and individuals impacted by mental health. As a local affiliate of NAMI National, the staff promotes community wellness, breaks down barriers to mental health care and provides support and expertise in Toledo and beyond.
Mental health encompasses everyone’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how people think, feel, and act, and helps determine how everyone handles stress, relates to others and makes choices. Taking care of one’s mental health is important throughout life, and it can impact various aspects of one’s life, including physical health.
The conference was organized by Ta’shara Ballard-Brown, social impact coordinator for the African American Leadership Initiative Chiar of NAMI—Greater Toledo, who has an extensive mental health background among other certifications. Many thoughts about how mental health affects the community were brought up by members of the conference such as: How are we as a community tackling issues with mental illness?
This year’s panelists were:
Albert “Prince” Bell —
Boxing champion and Toledo native, Albert Ball notes that he is a part of the youth and adult programs assisting them in merging back into the community as well as mentoring the young adults in how to start off in society.
La’Tasha Sullivan
La Tasha Sullivan, PhD, is a highly regarded licensed professional clinical counselor with over 15 years of experience in the mental health field. She has demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, suicide prevention, as well as topics specific to women and gender identities, social justice, and collegiate mental health.
She has served as a clinician and Director of Mental Health at a public college counseling center, and is the owner operator of Healthy Huex, LLC a mental health and wellness business tailored to Black women.
Patricia White, MBA, FACHE
Patricia White is a native Detroiter with over 25 years of the health care industry experience. In 2024, she was named CEO of the Encompass Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital of Toledo, Ohio. Patricia has served in key leadership roles with Detroit Medical Center, Wayne Health, Authority Health, Henry Ford Health System, Select Medical Corporation, Bronson Health Care Group, Trinity Health and St. John Health System.
Brian Byrd
Brian Byrd is a committed public servant who served 34 years as a firefighter and paramedic for the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department where he rose through the ranks, retiring as the Chief of the Department.
He continued service to the community for two years as the Director of Public Safety for the City of Toledo where, from the Mayor’s office, he had oversight of the fire department, the police department and the city’s gun violence intervention program.
The panelists were introduced by Tatiana Cash of WTOL who served as the mistress of ceremonies for the discussion. Each panelist discussed how his or her roles have impacted mental health and then answered a series of questions about generational views on mental health in a session titled “When We Listen, We Learn.”
Each panelist answered questions pertaining to mental health, how it has affected them in their own life and how they help those in the community deal with such issues. The conference was well needed amongst the community and showcased many positive attributes of the new YMCA on Bancroft street Toledo Ohio.. These types of conferences that discuss ways to assist the community when they are going through mental crises are needed and we as a community need to use the resources available to us and seek the help we need to heal.
The stated goal for the attendees was to learn how to build a stronger community and to remove the stigma of mental illness from the community and the workplace.
Last week’s event was part of the NAMI – Pathway to Hope Series 2025. The series continues on August 22 with a virtual day at Friendship Baptist Church, on August 23, with a picnic and back-to-school giveaway at Friendship Baptist and on September 16, with a Family & Friends Community Event at NAMI – Greater Toledo.