BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Mental Health Association (LAMHA) and the Louisiana Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP Louisiana) will host its sixth annual Behavioral Health Day this month in Baton Rouge.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, April 27, at A.Z. Young Park. Advocates for mental health will gather to hear Louisiana’s legislative leaders and other mental health champions talk about pressing issues impacting behavioral health and suicide prevention policy in the state.
“Behavioral healthcare is essential healthcare and should not be a luxury in Louisiana. Addressing mental health and substance use challenges is critical to improving overall health outcomes and saving lives,” said Melissa Silva, LAMHA executive director. “When we invest in mental health and substance use services, we strengthen our families, our workforce, and the future of our state.”
Mobile mammography coach to visit four Louisiana parishes in April
After hearing speeches, attendees will enjoy lunch and a mental health resource fair before meeting up with legislators to discuss policy priorities that support mental health initiatives. The goal of the day is to educate communities and policy leaders on the quality and access to behavioral health care in Louisiana.
According to LAMHA and AFSP Louisiana, 715,000 adults in the state live with a mental health condition.
To register or learn more, click here.
Latest News
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.