Newsletter

In honor of Men’s Mental Health Month

“Strength isn’t just about how much you handle alone; it’s also about how much you’re willing to ask for help when you need it.” -LeBron James

Since 1994, June marks the observance of men’s unique health challenges and encouragement of preventive care. This includes mental health issues where the cultural view might be that talking about your feelings is a feminine trait (Cleveland Clinic). Hearing from Dean East, LPC himself in the Employee Spotlight, he shares that MMHS empathizes with the mental health issues men face and how to effectively treat them.

“As Clinical Director, I oversee the clinical integrity, compliance, and operational effectiveness of the entire behavioral health and ARTS program. My responsibilities include ensuring services meet medical necessity and ASAM standards, supervising and developing clinical staff, maintaining DMAS and MCO compliance, safeguarding documentation quality, managing clinical risk, shaping program design, and translating clinical needs into operational strategy. I serve as the anchor for quality, safety, and accountability across all service lines.

I chose mental health because I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of human complexity, systems design, and real-world impact. This field lets me do work that is both deeply human and structurally meaningful — helping people stabilize their lives while building programs that actually function in the real world. I’m motivated by the belief that behavioral health systems should serve people with dignity, clarity, and integrity, and I’ve spent my career shaping environments where staff can thrive and clients can genuinely recover. It’s the rare kind of work where compassion and operational excellence matter equally.

Working in a field led largely by women has shaped me into a more intentional, collaborative, and emotionally intelligent leader. I don’t see myself as an exception — I see myself as part of a workforce built on empathy, communication, and resilience. Being a man in this space means listening more than talking, respecting the expertise around me, and challenging outdated assumptions about who “belongs” in behavioral health. I value the opportunity to contribute to a profession where relational strength and clinical rigor coexist, and I’m proud to work alongside women who have set the standard for what quality care looks like.

Mainstream is a strong mental health provider because we lead with clarity, integrity, and a commitment to doing the work the right way. My role is to ensure that our clinical decisions, our documentation, and our day-to-day operations all align with evidence-based practice and Medicaid standards — not just on paper, but in the way services are actually delivered.

Under my leadership, we’ve built a culture where staff feel supported, clients feel respected, and compliance is treated as a foundation for quality rather than a burden. We focus on clinical excellence, operational consistency, and human dignity. That combination is what allows Mainstream to provide care that is both compassionate and accountable, and it’s what keeps our services stable, ethical, and effective for the people who rely on us.

Mainstream supports men’s mental health by creating a treatment environment where men are allowed to show vulnerability without judgment, and where their experiences are understood in the context of trauma, social pressure, and the expectations placed on them. Many men come to us after years of being told to “tough it out,” “stay strong,” or hide what they feel. Our work is to undo that isolation by offering structure, dignity, and a clinical space where honesty is safe and encouraged.

We do this through evidence-based programming that addresses emotional regulation, identity, relationships, and recovery skills — but also through the way we treat people. We meet men where they are, not where society expects them to be. We normalize conversations about stress, shame, anger, and fear. We teach coping skills that don’t rely on avoidance or substance use. And we build peer environments where men can support one another without stigma.

Mainstream has been doing this by maintaining consistent, accountable clinical leadership; by training staff to recognize the unique barriers men face; and by designing groups that emphasize connection, responsibility, and hope. Our approach helps men feel seen, respected, and capable of change — even when the world has made them feel otherwise.

Mainstream has taken an active role in strengthening how law enforcement understands and responds to men experiencing mental-health crises. Many of the men we serve have been marginalized, misunderstood, or criminalized for behaviors rooted in trauma, addiction, or untreated psychiatric symptoms. Our work has focused on building relationships with police departments, so officers have clearer pathways to clinical support instead of defaulting to legal intervention.

We do this in several ways. First, we maintain open communication with local law enforcement so officers can quickly consult with us when they encounter someone connected to our services. Second, our clinicians provide education on how mental-health symptoms can mimic defiance, intoxication, or aggression — helping officers recognize when a situation is clinical rather than criminal.

Mainstream has been doing this consistently by showing up as a reliable partner — returning calls, coordinating care, sharing safety plans when appropriate, and advocating for treatment over punishment. Our approach helps officers make safer decisions, reduces unnecessary arrests, and ensures men in crisis are met with clinical care rather than legal consequences. It’s a model built on respect, communication, and the shared goal of keeping the community safe while preserving human dignity.”

In conclusion, mental health has a meaningful impact for helping clients genuinely recover. Dean’s relational strength helps to build a culture at MMHS of providing compassionate and accountable care. In supporting men’s health, it means understanding the context of their experiences. In its open communication with law enforcement, the result is men in crisis are met with clinical care rather than legal consequences. Therefore, the awareness of men’s health takes place in the delivery of quality mental health care.

Men’s Mental Health: 11 Tips for Taking Care of Your Whole Self. (2024, May 23). Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/tips-for-taking-care-of-mens-mental-health

💡NRV SPOTLIGHT 💡

Purple Party in the Park

The 5th Annual Purple Party in the Park will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Nellie’s Cave Park in Blacksburg, Virginia. The free community event will run from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is designed to bring people together to support the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Hosted in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association Central and Western Virginia Chapter, the event encourages families, friends, and community members to come together for a day filled with games, food, and activities. Organizers are asking everyone to wear their best purple outfits, since purple is the official color used to represent Alzheimer’s awareness. Guests attending the event can enjoy a free ice cream buffet, yard games, water balloon tosses, and raffle prizes. There will also be a craft corner hosted by Blacksburg Ballet, giving children and families an opportunity to participate in creative activities during the event. The Purple Party in the Park is not only meant to be fun, but it also serves an important purpose. Donations collected during the event will go directly toward supporting the Alzheimer’s Association and its efforts to provide research, education, and support services for individuals and families affected by dementia. Donations can be made at the event through cash, card, check, or Venmo, as well as online beforehand. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people across the United States and can have a major impact on both patients and their loved ones. Community events like Purple Party in the Park help spread awareness while also creating a supportive environment for those who may be personally affected by dementia. Nellie’s Cave Park, located at 1900 Grissom Lane in Blacksburg, will serve as the location for this year’s event. Organizers hope community members of all ages will attend to enjoy the activities while helping raise funds and awareness for an important cause.

For more information visit https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/ninakempic/purple-party-in-the-park

Birthdays

Robert C.

Raleigh G.

Lorenzo I.

Marjorie J.

Mariah M.

Derrick R.

Service Awards

Catherine B. – 3 Years

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