webinar
5.0 (2 Reviews)
April 28, 2025 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM EDT

Vital Lessons: A Town Hall on Mental Health, ADHD and What You Need to Know

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About This Webinar

Mental health concerns—including rising rates of anxiety, depression and ADHD (attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder)—are top of mind for families, educators, healthcare professionals and public employees across the country. Join Dr. Vin Gupta, Dr. Jerome Adams, and AFT President Randi Weingarten for an interactive town hall focused on mental health and ADHD in our schools, workplaces and communities.

As the second event in the "Vital Lessons: Health Chats with Dr. Vin Gupta" series, this conversation will offer practical, science-based guidance from two of the country’s leading public health experts. Dr. Adams, former U.S. surgeon general, and Dr. Gupta will explore the growing mental health needs of students, workers and communities—and what we can all do to respond with care, equity and urgency.

This live, audience-driven discussion will cover:

  • The rising rates of ADHD and mental health challenges in youth and adults;
  • The impact of stress and burnout on educators, healthcare professionals and public employees;
  • What schools, families and employers can do to support mental health and well-being;
  • How to navigate misinformation and stigma around ADHD and mental health treatment;
  • What policies and community-based approaches are working—and what’s still needed; and
  • How public employees, school staff and retirees can all be part of the solution.

This town hall is part of “Vital Lessons: Health Chats with Dr. Vin Gupta,” a yearlong series providing timely, science-based health insights for AFT members and our communities.

Speakers


Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, FASA

Dr. Jerome Adams was appointed as a Presidential Fellow and the Executive Director of the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning (HEAL) on October 1, 2021.  He is also a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.

As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member of the President’s Coronavirus task force, Dr. Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. A regular communicator via tv, radio, and in print, Dr. Adams is an expert not just in the science, but also in communicating the science to the lay public, and making it relevant to various audiences.

Dr. Adams is a licensed anesthesiologist with a master’s degree in public health, and ran the Indiana State Department of Health prior to becoming Surgeon General. In the State Health Commissioner role he managed a $350 million dollar budget and over 1000 employees, and led Indiana’s response to Ebola, Zika, and HIV crises. Notably, Dr. Adams helped convince the Governor and State Legislature to legalize syringe service programs in the state, and to prioritize $13 million in funding to combat infant mortality. As Surgeon General, Dr. Adams was the operational head of the 6000 person Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and oversaw responses to 3 back to back category 5 hurricanes, and to a once in a century pandemic.

In addition to his recent COVID19 work, Dr. Adams has partnered with and assisted organizations as they navigate the opioid epidemic, maternal health, rising rates of chronic disease, the impacts of rising suicide rates in our Nation, and how businesses can become better stewards and stakeholders in promoting community health.

Profile picture for user vinnie.gup
Public Health Physician, Professor, and Health Policy Expert

Dr. Vin Gupta, MD, MPA, is a public health physician, professor, and health policy expert. As a Harvard-trained lung specialist, Vin has spent the past 15 years working worldwide to improve public health for organizations including the US Centers for Disease Control, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the Harvard Global Health Institute, the World Health Organization, and the Pentagon’s Center for Global Health Engagement. Given his diversity of experiences, he is now a trusted advisor and contributor to national and international media outlets on several of the most important health issues today, including serving as a regular health policy analyst for NBC News and contributor to the New York Times and CNN New Day. As you will see below, Vin is committed to voicing evidence-informed perspectives across a range of critical issues like domestic US healthcare reform, the vaping epidemic, the effects of climate change on human health, and gun control. In doing so, he speaks honestly and is driven by evidence, not opinion or dogma.

Profile picture for user Randi Weingarten
President, AFT

RANDI WEINGARTEN is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, AFL-CIO, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for students, their families and communities. The AFT and its members advance these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through members’ work.

Professional Credit

Not available for credit.

Reviews

5.0
2 Reviews
Rayna Robinson-Holmes
Rayna Robinson-Holmes April 28, 2025
Great Info

This dialogue is much needed in schools today and for families to know about resources for ADHD.

Mark Bartscher
Mark Bartscher May 28, 2025
Good info and discussion

Great info and discussion on important issues in education today.

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