Office of Inclusive Excellence Newsletter
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MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN |
May is a busy month! The Common Thread invites you to recognize it is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge that well-being is shaped not only by individual resilience, but also by the environments in which people learn, work, and care for others. Mental Health America has recognized May as Mental Health Month for decades, reminding us that mental health is a shared community concern, not a private struggle to be carried alone.
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This month also includes important moments of recognition for the profession. National Nurses Week is observed each year from May 6 to May 12, ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. May 6 is School Nurse Day and May 8, 2026 is National Student Nurses Day. International Nurses Day is also observed on May 12. As a former school nurse practitioner, School Nurse Day holds special meaning for me and reminds me of the important role nurses play in fostering health, safety, and belonging. These observances give us an opportunity not only to celebrate nurses, but also to reflect on what truly sustains the nursing workforce: humane learning environments, supportive leadership, and a culture where care extends to caregivers too.
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HEALTH EQUITY FOCUS OF THE MONTH |
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Why Belonging is a Mental Health Issue
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Mental health in nursing education and healthcare is often presented as an individual matter; focusing on individual solutions like stress management, resilience, or self-care. While these strategies have value, individual coping mechanisms cannot compensate for systemic failures. Mental health is also shaped by whether people feel respected, supported, and safe in the environments where they learn and work. In the context of health equity, belonging is not separate from well-being; it is part of it.
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Shawn Bayrd, MPH, Program Associate in Student Services at the GW School of Nursing, is advancing mental health equity through two collaborative initiatives with the GW Center for Global Mental Health Equity (CGMHE). He is leading a 14-month scoping review with a team of 10 researchers, clinicians, students, and people with lived experience to catalogue over 100 tools used globally to incorporate feedback from service users, caregivers, and families into the quality assessment of mental health services. The review is identifying critical gaps in how lived experience feedback is gathered and valued across systems worldwide.
Shawn is also piloting a Foundational Helping Skills (FHS) workshop at GW Nursing, based on a WHO/UNICEF/CGMHE training framework, to build faculty and staff confidence in providing psychosocial support to students and colleagues in distress. The training – grounded in 15 core competencies including empathy, communication, and confidentiality – is currently under review by the Virginia Nurses Association for CEU accreditation with plans to be implemented in July 2026.
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VOICES OF INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE |
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On Culturally Responsive Mental Health Care: Addressing the Needs of a Diverse Population
This month, we feature a podcast conversation with Stephanie Cherestal, PhD, on the importance of cultural diversity in mental health and health care. Dr. Cherestal reflects on the varied experiences patients may have when seeking connection and support from mental health providers, and she highlights how intersectionality and racial trauma can shape psychotherapeutic treatment. She also offers practical guidance for both patients and providers seeking to engage in more culturally responsive, affirming, and effective mental health care.
This podcast is approximately 32 minutes.
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Upcoming & Future Conferences |
| DATE / TIME | TOPIC | DESCRIPTION | LOCATION |
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| May 15, 2026 10:00AM |
Bridging the Self: Integrating Internal Family Systems and Spirituality in the Therapy Room | This clinical presentation explores the intersection of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and spirituality in therapeutic practice. | Virtual | | May 16, 2026 | 11:00AM - 11:00PM | Generation DMV 2026 Men & Mental Health Conference | This FREE conference explores real-life topics such as stress, relationships, finances, identity, purpose, and navigating life’s challenges in a healthy and sustainable way. | Washington, DC | | July 16, 2026 |
Hill Day + Mental Health Conference
| This conference will showcase the most innovative and effective approaches for youth and young adults to mobilize to transform how mental health is valued and prioritized on campuses, in schools, in the transition to the workplace, and within our communities. | Washington, DC | | October 8-9, 2026 |
Mental Health America Conference | The conference theme, More Good Days, Together will explore how to make more good days possible for all by connecting people to the right support at the right time and recognizing that “good” is defined by unique mental health experiences and goals. | Washington, DC | | October 8-11, 2026 | Integrative Medicine for Mental Health (IMMH) Conference | This conference explores how human behaviors, societal structures, and environmental factors shape mental wellbeing, and how root cause, precision, personalised medicine can be a game changer. | San Diego, CA |
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NAMIWalks is a celebration of individuals, families, and communities coming together for one powerful purpose: Mental Health for All. Register here for a walk in your state or visit the links below for specific dates/locations.
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Whether you are marching solo, joining a team, or rallying your friends and family to support the cause, amplify your voice and raise awareness for mental wellness.
- Date: May 2, 2026
Time: 9:00AM - 2:00PM
- Location: Old Mill Park | Fredericksburg, VA
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Register here
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A FREE high-energy community event which focuses on youth and young adult wellness and the families who support them.
- Date: May 2, 2026
Time: 10:00AM - 3:00PM
- Location: Bowie State University | MLK Center
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Registration is FREE, but required. Register online in advance or on-site.
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Join the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency for a FREE event for family resources and fun activities including: lawn games, face painting, caricature art, calming room, DJs, and a photobooth.
- Date: May 9, 2026
Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM
- Location: Severn Elementary School | Severn, MD
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Join Wellness Loudoun for a powerful community screening of the teen mental health documentary Our Turn to Talk during Mental Health Awareness Month. This thought-provoking film features teens speaking honestly about the pressures they face and what they wish adults understood about their mental health.
- Date: May 13, 2026
Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
- Location: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema One Loudoun | Ashburn, VA
- FREE event ticket here (sale ends May 5, 2026 at 7:00pm)
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This FREE event is all about community unity, mental health and wellness, and fun for all ages. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a free community gathering dedicated to your mental health and well-being.
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The FREE Community Day Health Fair was created to connect the community directly with
mental health and medical resource providers, health and wellness screenings, and resources in a welcoming and accessible community environment.
- Date: May 16, 2026
Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM
- Location: Sycamore & Oak | Washington, DC
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A FREE interactive community event aimed at offering Behavioral Health and Wellness resources to adults and youth at every stage of life. Discover ways to boost your mental health, learn about crisis intervention and suicide prevention, and enjoy family-friendly activities and giveaways.
- Date: May 16, 2026
Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM
- Location: Southern Regional Tech. & Rec. Complex | Fort Washington, MD
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Registration is recommended but not required to attend the Health Expo. For FREE admission to the event, please complete the participant registration form.
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The Weight We Carry explores the complex, often unseen experiences of mental health through the lens of art. This FREE exhibit invites us to reflect, foster empathy, and engage in conversations that reduce stigma and celebrate human strength.
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CALL TO REFLECTION OR ACTION |
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This space will feature a prompt designed to help you grow in relationship with yourself and others. Here is May's reflection prompt:
As we reflect on mental health, stigma, and belonging this month, consider:
What is the one thing you can do to help create a culture where asking for support feels safer, easier, and more accepted?
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