Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston Health Equity Response (H.E.R.) Task Force invite you to announce the second installment of the Mayor’s Health Equity Response (H.E.R) virtual town hall series, Mental Health in Minority Communities During the Pandemic. Hosted by the H.E.R. Task Force’s Faith Community Leaders Subcommittee, the live and interactive forum will be from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm on Friday, August 21, 2020.

“I know the COVID-19 pandemic is causing great distress for many of us. That is why it is important to share what you are feeling and to know that you are not alone,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Whatever you are feeling right now: hope, sadness, frustration or happiness. They are all valid and OK. Having healthy outlets to explore these feelings is what is important. That is the goal of the virtual town hall. We want you to be empowered as you navigate these unprecedented times.”

The three topics of focus for this town hall will be:

  • Grieving: Processing Death During the Pandemic
  • Exploring Mental Health Interventions for our Youth and Adults
  • The Unraveling of Social Networks: Social Isolation

To register for the Friday, August 21 town hall, click here.

The first virtual town hall on July 24, 2020 was hosted via Zoom to a virtual audience of several hundred attendees and live streamed on Facebook to thousands of viewers. This ongoing engagement is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for residents to express their anxieties and feelings of isolation during COVID-19. A panel of mental health experts, faith and community leaders and City of Houston staff will provide critical information and access to mental health resources where individuals in need can seek care and support.

The H.E.R. Initiative and Task Force was launched in April 2020 by Mayor Turner and is a vital component of the City of Houston’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Effort, especially for vulnerable and at-risk populations. This initiative is led by five Mayor’s Office Division Directors with implementation visioning and support from the H.E.R. Task Force, which is comprised of more than 50 civic leaders. Mayoral appointees to the Task Force include medical specialists, public health professionals, communications creatives, data scientists, technology experts and faith leaders.