Enosh and Elem hosted a virtual side-event on the sidelines of the 64th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. This event presented the vital intersection of mental health and substance abuse and highlight the need for a wide variety of community-based services, especially amid COVID-19. The focus was given to differences in proactive approaches among youth and young adults.
The panel of speakers focused on the global work of the WHO; State-level directives and policies presented by the Israeli Ministry of Health; and examples of services in the community from Israel and the USA, which highlighted the need of community support and lived experiences.
More than 90 participants from around the world attended the event.
Co-organizers:
• The World Health Organization
• The Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations & International Organizations in Vienna
• Jewish Child and Family Services, Chicago, USA
• Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. Washington DC, USA
The Virtual Event
Panelists Bio's:
Silvia Berladski Baruch – Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, OSCE and other International Organizations, Permanent Mission of Israel, Vienna
Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993. has held several posts abroad – in the Israeli Embassies in Warsaw and then Athens as Depuy Ambassador, in The Hague as head of public diplomacy , and since 2016 as the Deputy Permanent Representative in the multilateral Dept, at the mission of Israel to International Organisations in Vienna.
Education – BSc in physics , Tel Aviv University
Executive MBA, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Hilla Hadas, Enosh, CEO, The Israeli Mental Health Association
Hilla Hadas (Ph.D) has held the role of Executive Director of Enosh for 13 years. She holds a leading role in shaping Israeli public policy to benefit people with psychosocial disabilities and their families. Dr. Hadas is a member of the roundtable in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office that manages the discourse on social issues in Israel among the Israeli government, the NGO sector, and the business sector to achieve multisector, multilevel changes in Israel on a national scale. Previously, Dr. Hadas has served as the CEO of the Achva Academic College. She is currently a member of the board of trustees. Additionally, Dr. Hadas is a member of the board of directors of The Israeli Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (ISPRA), a member of the board of trustees of The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, a member of the international advisory committee of the Jewish Agency Partnership2Gether (P2G) program. Dr. Hadas is a graduate of the Israel Digital Leaders Program, supported by the Israeli Ministry for Social Equality.
Photo credit: Ofer Hajayov
Nava Barak President, ELEM- Youth in Distress
Former first lady of Israel, Nava Barak has served as president of ELEM – Youth in Distress since 1996. Ms. Barak works tirelessly to ensure that issues facing Israel’s at-risk youth are part of public discourse. Ms. Barak has built strong partnerships between ELEM and government ministries and garnered support and involvement from the business sector. This was key to ELEM’s ability to stay on the streets, identifying and supporting young people throughout the coronavirus outbreak and the series of lockdowns here in Israel.
Ms. Barak leads ELEM’s efforts to raise vital resources so the organization can fulfill its mission of assisting Israel’s most vulnerable teens and young adults. Ms. Barak has also served as the president of the Friend of Rabin Medical Center and a member of the board of the America-Israel Friendship League.
Photo credit: Itzik Biran
Fahmy Hanna, World Health Organization,
Dr Fahmy Hanna MD, a psychiatrist by training, has more than 15 years of experience in mental health services and its development in low and middle-income settings. He served mainly at duty stations in countries affected by complex emergencies. In 2014, he moved to WHO in Geneva, where his main areas of work include providing technical assistance to countries on mental health during emergencies and supporting governments and WHO partners in scaling up mental health care. Since July 2017, Dr Hanna is representing WHO as the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies. Dr Hanna is WHO HQ focal point for mental health and psychosocial support and COVID-19.
Paola Rosca, MD., MPP, Head, Department for the Treatment of Substance Abuse, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
Adult Psychiatrist, Forensic Psychiatrist, BA in Public Policy. Expert in Addiction medicine. Treasurer of the Israeli Psychiatric Association, 2015-2018 . Since 2006 Head of the Department for the Treatment of Substance Abuse, Ministry of Health, Mental Health Division. Actively involved in various investigation projects in the field of SUDs ,Dual Diagnosis and Rehabilitation .Teacher at the Hebrew University, School of Social Work and Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, and at Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv. Certified Physician for medical cannabis and member of the MOP Board for Cannabis research in Israel .Israeli representative in international Boards (WHO, alcohol strategy, UNODC scientific board, EMCDDA focal point)
Hila Bochan, Director of Substance abuse and Rehabilitation Services, Enosh – The Israeli Mental Health Association
Hila is a licensed social worker and holds an MSW from the Haifa University in Israel. She is a graduate of substance use therapy in the national school for social work in Israel. Hila has more than 15 years in the substance use field, where she was directing different services for people who experience homelessness, mental health issues, and substance use. In the past three years, Hila is developing Enosh's substance use services, including professional development of community-based services, supervising professional teams, and supporting them. Besides, Hila is facilitating family support groups for families who experience substance use of their loved ones. "I believe that people who are experiencing mental health and substance use need stable and accessible support which is holistic and address both mental health and substance use issues. We develop services that can address this gap."
Diana Matteson, Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., Washington DC, USA
Diana Matteson has over 25 years of experience in human services in direct practice, teaching and development. She holds an M.A. in Art Therapy and a B.A. in Psychology, The George Washington University. Diana's graduate thesis focused on the role of art and storytelling in the grief process for young people living in street situations and adults living with HIV/AIDS. Diana has represented YAP at international conferences and led educational workshops in nine different countries on clinical practice and practical interventions with marginalized youth and families. Diana coordinates training, technical assistance, and consultation with YAP partners on four continents. Committed to the values of co-production and peer learning, Diana chairs an international peer forum that collaborates on YAP Global Youth Voices initiatives to engage to inform YAP practice and advocacy.
Nicholas Rosenbloom
Nicholas (BS.CHE), a child of adoption, since 5 days old he was raised by his loving Mother of Jewish descent in Boston Massachusetts, USA. Nicholas's biological mother immigrated from Zimbabwe. Throughout much of his childhood, Nicholas struggled with behavioral health issues. He was diagnosed with chronic health issues, which added additional layers of challenges in adolescents. In his early 20's, Nicholas, with the support of his small, chosen family, and most importantly, his Mom, reconnected with his biological Mother; and moved to her home in Georgia, USA. In Georgia, he met his wife (of nearly 11 years now), who immigrated from South Africa.
Nicholas and his wife, Alice, have 2 sets of twins (2 and 9), and now live in New York. His wife inspired Nicholas to continue on his path towards higher education, and current pursuit of a PhD in ABA. wife and I had our first set of twins in Georgia, where I also began my pursuit of higher education. Nicholas is a first-time author (Enesbe Rosenbloom – "Amandla's Choice") and is preparing to publish his second ("Genesis Knight"). Nicholas has volunteered with community mobilization efforts to address inequality (housing, racial inequities). He also is a staunch advocate of the marginalized and struggling youth. He runs two small businesses with the stated mission of empowering the African Diaspora, and raising the voices of neurodiverse peoples, and ending mental health stigma.
Roy Homri, National Director, ELEM’s outreach van program.
For the past 15 years, Roy has been working with at-risk youth.
Roy began his career at ELEM as a volunteer while completing undergraduate studies in Economics, Business Management and Accounting at Tel Aviv University. When Roy finished his degree, he started an ELEM outreach team on the streets of Lod, an impoverished and underserved city. Since then, Roy has held a variety of roles in ELEM’s street work program. Today Roy is ELEM’s national director of street work.
Roy also plays a significant role in training both ELEM and external teams working with vulnerable young people.
Roy also volunteered for many years with adults struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. In addition, Roy gives presentations to "Birthright" and "Masa" groups who come to Israel from the US and UK, about Israeli society, its diversity and the complexity of Israeli life.
Nina Henry, Jewish Child and Family Services, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Nina Henry, LCPC, CADC is an Addiction Specialist and Mental Health Educator at JCFS Chicago. She has been active in the substance use and mental health fields for nearly 30 years. Ms. Henry received her Master of Counseling at Northeastern Illinois University and was certified to provide addiction treatment services by the Illinois Certification Board in 1991. For nearly 20 years, MS. Henry supervised Recovery Point, a program of Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4), where the primary focus was serving clients who were dually diagnosed. Ms. Henry has provided Mental Health First Aid training for 10 years and is the Project Leader for the Training of Leaders committee convened by the Illinois Certification Board.
Liron David, Policy and International Relations Chief Officer, Enosh – The Israeli Mental Health Association
Liron David is an Israeli lawyer and social worker (BSW, LL.B) and holds a master's degree in Human Rights Law (LL.M). Liron leads Enosh's global activity and advocates to implementing the CRPD principles, human rights, and recovery in community-based settings. Liron represents Enosh in various international forums and conferences and advocates on global mental health issues. Previously, Liron served as a legal advisor and counsel to the CEO at Enosh. Before coming to Enosh, Liron served as a judicial clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court and as a legal adviser at the Israeli Ministry of Justice. She is part of the Technical Advisory Group on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 in the WHO European region.