Office of Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention

Sometimes we all need a little extra help. Explore a variety of mental health resources available in Massachusetts at Mass.gov/WhatsOnYourMind. Everyone’s journey is different, and what helps one person might not be the right fit for another. It’s important to keep trying to find the support that’s best for you. Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/getting-help-when-you-need-it

OBHPP had the honor to speak and present at this year’s Massachusetts Department of Public Health Problem Gambling Conference in Springfield yesterday. It was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate, hear from individuals with lived and living experience, and to celebrate the years of community voices that have played a pivotal role in developing public health strategies.

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Learning about it helps us care for ourselves and support the people in our lives. Find more information about mental health, mental health conditions, and why talking about it matters: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/understanding-mental-health

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is May 3-9. You care about your child and know them better than anyone else. You see their moods, nurture their interests, and watch them explore the world around them. Even so, it’s not always easy to fully understand what they’re feeling or if they need support. Learn more supporting your child’s mental well-being at

Supporting your child’s mental health Trust your instincts. If something feels off - like changes in mood, energy, sleep, or connection - a simple conversation can help. Learn more about supporting children’s mental well-being and connecting to care.

May is Mental Health Month! Whether you’re feeling grounded, overwhelmed, energized, or something in between, your mental health matters - on good days and hard ones. Learn more nurturing your well-being and supporting the people around you at Mass.gov/WhatsOnYourMind

Last Friday, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Funmi Aguocha joined Radio Planet Compas for a live conversation with Haitian communities in Massachusetts about behavioral health and why promotion and prevention must stay at the center of public health and be rooted in the community.

Prevention becomes real when the message is carried by trusted voices. When information is shared through community leaders, faith spaces, cultural organizations, and local advocates, people listen differently. The language feels familiar, the intention feels respectful, and the conversation becomes possible. That trust reduces stigma and helps families reach for support earlier.
This matters because mental well-being is shaped by daily life. Stress, migration experiences, isolation, family responsibilities, and the strength it takes to keep going all matter. Promotion and prevention strengthen protective factors, reinforce connection, and make support easier to access in ways that reflect culture, language, and lived experience.

Thank you to Harold Marius and the Planet Compas team for creating space for this dialogue. More resources at Mass.gov/WhatsOnYourMind.

Congratulations to YouthQuake on the opening of your beautiful, bright new space! It was great to hear directly from the young adults who have already been positively impacted by your presence in the community. The new location will only help to grow your roots deeper and further your reach. Thank you to the Vinfen Corporation and Massachusetts Department of Mental Health teams who have supported this effort from the start.

This week was a reminder of why this work matters. I was proud to see our office featured at the Boston Fleet Mental Health Awareness Night against the Toronto Sceptres.

As our ambassadors connected with attendees on the concourse and shared resources, people stopped, listened, and felt seen. That is the core of our work to promote behavioral health and wellness for every Massachusetts resident and to remind people that support is within reach.

Seeing the What’s on Your Mind campaign on the Jumbotron alongside so many community partners showed that this is a shared effort, not the work of one office alone. We are meeting people where they are and sending a clear message that no one is alone. Through partnership and presence, we are working to break down stigma and build a Commonwealth where mental wellness is supported and accessible.

I am grateful to our team, our partners, and every resident who continues to move this conversation forward. This work is sustained through presence, listening, and collective commitment, and it grows stronger when we do it together.

-Dr. Funmi Agoucha, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention

Learn more about the campaign: https://www.mass.gov/whats-on-your-mind

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Official Opening of the Office of Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention A lock icon ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the official website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Learning about it helps us care for ourselves and support the people in our lives. Find more information about mental health, mental health conditions, and why talking about it matters: https://www.mass.gov/whats-on-your-mind