Rochester in Focus: Mental health resources in Rochester and efforts to improve them

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — This week for Rochester in Focus, Lynette Adams focused on services and support for people, particularly young people, who have mental health disorders and what has changed in the three years since a teen with autism and mental health issues walked away from his school and days later was found dead in the Genesee River.

Rosemarie Jaouen of Greece is the mother of a 30-something-year-old young man who has a brain disorder.

From the beginning of his diagnosis, she has worked to get adequate care, but she says antiquated practices have made it nearly impossible.

Watch her and Lynette’s Zoom conversation in the video in the player below (mobile users, click here):

A bill called the Trevyon Rowe Child and Young Teen Mental Health Community Safety Act is aiming to provide more resources for children with mental health issues by educating more school staff about how to help them.

Lynette spoke with Heidi Levy, who runs Emergency Support Providers, a company that helps people with mental health challenges get supportive housing and other services, and Autism Council of Rochester President and CEO Lawana Jones about the bill.

Watch the video in the player below to hear their Zoom conversation (mobile users, click here):

Lynette also spoke with Sara Taylor. Taylor is a mental health advocate, as well as the mother of a 13-year-old who has mental health issues. Taylor says she’s outraged by a recent experience where she reached out for help amid a crisis.

Her Zoom conversation with Lynette is in the video in the player below (mobile users, click here):