NJ State Senator Vin Gopal honored by leading national mental health non-profit

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Mental Health America (MHA), considered a leading community-based nonprofit, recognized 11 state legislators as MHA’s 2022 Legislative Champions, among them Indian-American Vin Gopal of New Jersey.

Each was honored in Denver at MHA’s Regional Policy Council (RPC) meeting, the organization announced August 2, 2022, in a press release.

The MHA is dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all.

New Jersey State Sen. Vin Gopal was recognized “for his work to establish a statewide crisis system of care, efforts to increase suicide prevention training, and his focus on school-based mental health education,” the press release said.

Tweeting about the recognition as MHA’s 2022 Legislative Champion, Gopal said, “Honored to be one of 11 state legislators throughout the county. We accomplished so much as it relates to mental health, but we have so much more to do. Thank you to all the stakeholders who continue to work on this issue.”

The other legislators recognized were: Colorado Rep. Judy Amabile; Colorado Rep. Mary Young; Georgia Rep. Gregg Kennard; Georgia Rep. Todd Jones; Connecticut Sen. Catherine Osten; Connecticut Rep. Toni Walker; Pennsylvania Rep. Wendi Thomas; Michigan Rep. Mary Whiteford; Delaware Rep. Ruth King; and Delaware Sen. Laura Sturgeon.

“These legislators are all working tirelessly in their states to improve mental health support and increase access to care for their constituents,” Debbie Plotnick, executive vice president for state and federal advocacy at MHA, is quoted saying in the press release. “We at MHA appreciate their commitment and commend their achievements in school-based mental health, parity, crisis care, telehealth, and more. They are an inspiration to the other legislators in their states and nationwide”

The recognition ceremony entiled “Peer-ing Into the Future”  was held in person in Denver, Colorado.