Dear Central Bucks families,

On October 6, 2021, our district hosted a mental health awareness event at Central Bucks High School South entitled “Crushing Stigma – Building Mental Strength for Life.”  This event featured panel discussions and a keynote address focused on providing hope, resources, and information to help families strengthen their knowledge and support their children’s mental health, both now and throughout their lives.

While we are grateful to those who were able to attend in person, we know that our families lead busy lives, and for that reason, both the “From the Experts” moderated panel discussion and keynote were streamed live and recorded for your convenience. You may access these recordings below:

From the Experts: Mental Health and Wellness Panel Discussion 

Keynote Presentation - Crushing Stigma - Building Mental Strength for Life

In an effort to further support students and families, we will continue to focus on the mental health of our students by increasing the partnerships that enable us to connect families with the resources they need, while caring for our students as they continue to grow into the best versions of themselves. These efforts will include targeted programs for families, teachers and staff, and more. Perhaps most importantly, we will endeavor to meet the needs of our students by having direct, candid conversations with them, both individually and in groups, so that they may guide and influence the ways in which we respond.

Remember, if you or someone you know is in need of support, there are resources listed on our website and available at the phone numbers listed below.

• Lenape Valley Mobile Crisis 1-877-435-7709
• 24/7 Crisis Intervention Hotline 1-800-499-7455
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
• Central Bucks Crisis at Doylestown Hospital 215-345-2273
• Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission 215-444-2730

Our students’ mental health is inextricably linked to their ability to achieve success in school and in life.  We will continue to work in partnership with our families and community to ensure that our students’ wellbeing remains at the forefront of our efforts as a district.  Thank you for your continued support, and have a great start to the week.

Respectfully,

Abram M. Lucabaugh, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Archived Event Information

• More than 20 Mental Health Resource Provider Exhibits

Panel Sessions

• From the Experts: Mental Health and Wellness - Superintendent Dr. Abram Lucabaugh will moderate a panel discussion with mental health experts. The discussion will center on mental health and wellness from the perspective of practitioners, parents, and mental health providers. Panelists will explore the difference between mental health and mental illness, ways to talk to your children about their mental health, how to determine if your child is in need of mental health support, and where to begin to find help. Meet our panelists:
  • Dr. Adam Assoian, Director | Ally Psychological Services
  • Dr. Jamie Gairo, Board Vice President | NAMI Bucks County
  • Wendy Flanigan, Program coordinator of Service Development and Quality Management | Bucks County Department of Behavioral Health/Developmental Programs
  • Judy Heath, Interagency Coordinator | Bucks County Intermediate Unit
  • Barb Miller, Director of Children's Services | Bucks County Department of Behavioral Health/Developmental Programs
  • Nicole Wolf, Director of Education and Training | Lenape Valley Foundation
    
    
• Central Bucks Social Workers Panel - Central Bucks School District's social workers Leigh Bianchi (West Cluster), Raquel Riad (South Cluster), and Megan Zdzeira (East Cluster) will discuss navigating the system of mental health and wellness supports in our area, and answer questions about community and school district resources. This session has limited seating and is designed to be a more intimate discussion. 

Keynote Presentation - Crushing Stigma - Building Mental Strength for Life

Nicholas Emeigh, Director of Outreach & Development, NAMI Bucks County

Nicholas Emeigh is a mental health advocate and public speaker with 5 years of continuous recovery from mental illness, substance use, and is a survivor of 3 suicide attempts. He proudly serves the community as Director of Outreach and Development for NAMI Bucks County PA providing help, hope, awareness and opportunities to Bucks County’s 640,000 residents. He speaks often at conferences, schools, and institutions of medicine and higher learning on the power of peer support, about his own journey through an intense battle with mental illness, and what he is doing now to help shatter the stigma so that no one feels alone on their journey to recovery.

Mia Scocozzo, M.Ed., Director of Youth Programs, NAMI Bucks County

Mia Scocozzo, M.Ed., is the Director of Youth Programs for NAMI Bucks County PA where she educates students on a variety of topics around mental health. In her role, Mia works closely with middle and high school students throughout the county to ensure they have a safe space to express their emotions. Prior to her role at NAMI, Mia was a middle school math teacher in Philadelphia where she focused on incorporating social emotional learning into her classroom. Mia is proud to be a part of NAMI Bucks County to provide help, hope, and awareness around mental health.