Upstate Mental Health REACH Initiative

Upstate Mental Health REACH Initiative Empowering primary care providers in New York State to confidently diagnose and treat mild-to-moderate mental health disorders

The Upstate Mental Health REACH Initiative is a free educational program founded in 2022 by the SUNY Upstate Medical University Department of Psychiatry and funded by the Patrick Lee Foundation and the Mother Cabrini Foundation. REACH Initiative aims to increase the competencies of primary care providers in diagnosing and treating the mental health disorders most commonly seen in their practice. Each REACH cycle consists of a one-day intensive workshop followed by 10 weekly virtual Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) sessions. The program is free for all participants, and the intensive workshop is awarded 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each ECHO session is awarded 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. We are proud to have served over 300 participants from over 51 New York counties. To learn about attending our next workshop, visit us at https://www.upstate.edu/psych/education/reach.php

🙏 HUGE thank you to all our wonderful participants! Your enthusiasm and dedication made this workshop truly special. We ...
09/13/2025

🙏 HUGE thank you to all our wonderful participants! Your enthusiasm and dedication made this workshop truly special. We appreciate your commitment to advancing mental health care in our community. Looking forward to continuing this journey together!

🌟 We just wrapped up a fantastic workshop with The Upstate Mental Health REACH Initiative! 🌟A big thank you to the SUNY ...
09/13/2025

🌟 We just wrapped up a fantastic workshop with The Upstate Mental Health REACH Initiative! 🌟

A big thank you to the SUNY Upstate Medical University Department of Psychiatry Faculty, the Patrick Lee Foundation, and the Mother Cabrini Foundation for providing this valuable learning experience. We're excited to see how the new skills and knowledge in diagnosing and treating substance use disorders will enhance the practices of our dedicated community-focused providers. Can't wait for the next event!

Stay connected with us here:
https://www.upstate.edu/psych/education/reach.php

Listening to a fantastic session led by Dr. Zsuzsa Meszaros on Motivational Interviewing in primary care. She emphasizes...
09/13/2025

Listening to a fantastic session led by Dr. Zsuzsa Meszaros on Motivational Interviewing in primary care. She emphasizes that “ambivalence is a natural part of change, and working through it is a key goal of MI.” Her practical tips on building rapport, handling resistance, and motivating patients are invaluable for addressing addiction and supporting lasting change—even in busy clinical settings. A great reminder of how empathy and effective communication can truly make a difference!

We are grateful to REACH program director and physician-scientist Dr. Nevena Radonjić, MD, PhD, for her impactful presen...
09/13/2025

We are grateful to REACH program director and physician-scientist Dr. Nevena Radonjić, MD, PhD, for her impactful presentation. Her insights into how early life stress may act as a shared pathway increasing vulnerability to both mood and substance use disorders were truly enlightening. She emphasized that “Differentiating primary mood disorder from substance-induced mood disorder can guide treatment recommendations and improve treatment outcomes,” highlighting the critical importance of accurate diagnosis in clinical practice.

Grateful to Dr. Pratik Jain for sharing his expertise on substance-induced mood and anxiety disorders. His insights on d...
09/13/2025

Grateful to Dr. Pratik Jain for sharing his expertise on substance-induced mood and anxiety disorders. His insights on differentiating these conditions, evaluation during different phases, and evidence-based treatments are invaluable. As he emphasizes, "When treating a primary mood disorder with co-occurring substance use, we can't view them as separate issues. An integrated approach is essential."

🌟 Zuri Williams, MD Candidate, leads an engaging activity focused on applying evidence-based recommendations for the tre...
09/13/2025

🌟 Zuri Williams, MD Candidate, leads an engaging activity focused on applying evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder in everyday practice. Participants explore current clinical guidelines on screening for AUD and learned how to select appropriate pharmacological interventions tailored to patient-specific factors.

Kudos to Zuri for her leadership and dedication to advancing clinical practice! 👩‍⚕️

☝️ Division Chief of Addiction Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate, Dr. Tolani Ajagbe, shares essential strategies for managing A...
09/13/2025

☝️ Division Chief of Addiction Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate, Dr. Tolani Ajagbe, shares essential strategies for managing Alcohol Use Disorder in primary care. Key methods include SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment), FDA-approved medications, and other treatment options. Early detection and intervention are crucial for success.

Thrilled to be joined by SUNY Upstate’s Zuri Williams, MS3 and SU’s Bennett Simone! Both are passionate about supporting...
09/13/2025

Thrilled to be joined by SUNY Upstate’s Zuri Williams, MS3 and SU’s Bennett Simone! Both are passionate about supporting programs that improve mental health awareness.

Zuri values the REACH Initiative for bridging mental health and education across disciplines, helping providers feel confident in screening and guiding patients. Bennett is dedicated to volunteering and supporting community mental health efforts.

Their commitment highlights the need for integrated, compassionate care.

🙏 Honoring her daughter’s memory, our first speaker, MaryBeth, shared an important message: "Physicians need to be equip...
09/13/2025

🙏 Honoring her daughter’s memory, our first speaker, MaryBeth, shared an important message: "Physicians need to be equipped to treat AUD with the same facility as other chronic and treatable illnesses like diabetes and hypertension."

Let’s come together to raise awareness and improve care for those affected by alcohol use disorder.

🗣️ We are ready to go at our fall REACH Intensive Workshop! Thank you to Upstate Medical University for hosting us at yo...
09/13/2025

🗣️ We are ready to go at our fall REACH Intensive Workshop! Thank you to Upstate Medical University for hosting us at your beautiful space.

We are thrilled to bring together healthcare providers from 15 counties of Upstate New York to strengthen their skills in treating substance use disorders. REACH aims to grow competent mental health practitioners and foster engagement among passionate community members.

The SUNY Upstate Mental Health REACH program is proud to support Upstate NY and build a stronger community! 🤝

🌟 The countdown is on—JUST 2 DAYS until the Upstate Mental Health REACH Workshop! Get ready to connect, collaborate, and...
09/11/2025

🌟 The countdown is on—JUST 2 DAYS until the Upstate Mental Health REACH Workshop! Get ready to connect, collaborate, and enhance your practice this Saturday, 9/13 at 9 AM at Upstate Medical’s New Academic Building, Room 4414B/C alongside fellow New York State healthcare professionals.

Join us for a full day packed with insightful discussions and expert panels, featuring an incredible lineup of speakers who will dive into vital mental health topics centered on the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders primary care. 🌟

Don’t miss out—be part of the change. See you there!
https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/_hU9SLQST-St4UMfKTI8AQ #/registration

⏰ Just 5 days to go! Don’t miss our 7th REACH workshop this Saturday, September 13 at Upstate Medical University. It’s a...
09/08/2025

⏰ Just 5 days to go! Don’t miss our 7th REACH workshop this Saturday, September 13 at Upstate Medical University. It’s a great opportunity to improve your skills in managing substance use disorders in primary care. Prepare to be inspired by distinguished speakers and SUNY Upstate experts who will share invaluable insights. 🧠

Register now and join us to stay current and make a difference in your community!
https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/_hU9SLQST-St4UMfKTI8AQ #/registration

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