Spectrum Health and Human Services kicked off Women’s History Month with a powerful webinar where there was candid talk about women’s mental health.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Spectrum Health and Human Services kicked off Women’s History Month with a webinar bringing together local women in various professions to talk candidly about women’s mental health.
The virtual panel focused on wellness topics ranging from personal resiliency and health equity to coping strategies and the role of art and music in healing. The goal, organizers said, was to create a safe, judgment-free space — “like chatting with your best girlfriends,” where no topic is too small to matter.
WGRZ-TV anchor-reporter Claudine Ewing moderated the discussion, guiding panelists through deeply personal stories and practical advice meant to help women feel seen, heard, and supported.
Erie County Director of Health Equity Kelly Marie Wofford shared her lived experience navigating trauma, therapy, and evolving mental health diagnoses. She spoke openly about how exhausting it can be to repeatedly recount painful experiences when seeking help — and why persistence still matters.
“I think the one thing that women need to hear is that if the diagnosis does not help, then continue to move forward in your path,” Wofford said. “The diagnosis does not define you.”
Wofford emphasized that while diagnoses can provide clarity and understanding, they should never be treated as a final destination — or a limitation on healing.
Certified forensic interviewer Sonja Upchurch described her journey through homelessness, living in her car, and sleeping on park benches before finding stable housing and support through Spectrum programs.
“It’s very difficult to survive your own mind,” Upchurch said, explaining how untreated mental health conditions and lack of stable housing can compound one another — especially for women.
Once housed, she was able to access education, transportation, and employment opportunities that ultimately changed her life. Upchurch stressed that addressing basic needs like housing must come first.
“If it’s not a foundation of stable housing,” she said, “it’s very difficult to continue into the future.”
She also spoke about the heightened vulnerability women face, calling for broader, more inclusive systems of support that don’t require women to fit into narrow eligibility categories.
Panelists also explored how creativity can be a lifeline.
Kate Hill of Spectrum Health shared how music helped her cope with severe depression following a traumatic experience in high school — a tool she still uses today when working with youth and adults in the community.
“Music is the universal language,” Hill said. “It can help us through some really difficult times.”
Victoria Perez, founder of Raice’s Theater Company, discussed mental health in the performing arts, where rejection is routine. She highlighted the importance of self-talk, empathy, and separating personal worth from professional outcomes.
“If you did the work, you won,” Perez said. “That’s all that matters.”
Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope addressed the pressure women — particularly women of color — face to appear strong at all times, even while struggling internally.
“Strength doesn’t mean suffering in silence,” she said. “Mental health is health care.”
Halton-Pope shared how therapy, faith, boundaries, and intentional self-care help her manage the demands of public service — and why protecting mental health isn’t optional, but necessary.
“When you’re well,” she said, “you show up better for the people you serve.”
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was boundaries — and the power of saying no.
Panelists stressed that women are often conditioned to overextend themselves, but prioritizing mental health sometimes means declining opportunities, asking for help, and allowing space for rest.
“No is a complete sentence,” Wofford said. “Saying no to someone else is saying yes to yourself.”
As the webinar closed, panelists encouraged women to mentor one another, normalize vulnerability, and continue sharing their stories to break down stigma.
“Be the light,” Wofford said in her final remarks. “If you don’t know what to do — just be the light.”
The conversation served as a reminder that while disparities remain, healing is possible — and women don’t have to navigate it alone.