Episode #207 - Normalizing the Conversation: Mental Health and Caring for Our Most Vulnerable Youth with Mike O’Connor
In this episode, we’re joined by Mike O’Connor, Chief Relationship Officer at New Hope Treatment Centers, a family owned and operated behavioral healthcare company serving adolescents with complex trauma and other psychiatric and behavioral challenges.
Since 2008, he has helped New Hope connect kids and families with the services they need, and built relationships with the systems, providers, state agencies, payers, and professionals around them.
Mike talks about New Hope’s mission-driven work, why open conversations about mental health and suicide matter, and how his family shaped his path. Both his mother and grandmother worked in the mental health field.
In this episode, we talk about:
Mike’s journey from wilderness-based juvenile justice work to behavioral healthcare leadership
How New Hope supports adolescents facing psychiatric illness and complex trauma
Why normalizing conversations around mental health and suicide is so important
The role of families, systems, and community partners in getting kids the right care
Growing up around the mental health field and how it shaped Mike’s career
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn here
Learn more about New Hope here
