More than 100 school counselors from across Long Island visited SUNY Old Westbury on Friday, October 20, 2023, to participate in the 47th Long Island Counselors' Annual Conference. The event was developed and run by leaders from the East End Counselors' Association, the Nassau Counselors' Association, and the Western Suffolk Counselors' Association.
"The conference planning committee did a great job in building a program that was timely, informative, and well-received by the attendees," said Dr. Bryan Terry, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at SUNY Old Westbury. "We were pleased to serve as host for this year's conference and to be able to support the professionals who work so hard to help students prepare for life after high school."
Focused on the theme "Bridging the Gap between Counseling and Students’ Behavioral Health," the conference featured workshops on such topics as the resources and services for children with mental and behavioral health issues, identifying OCD in the child and adolescent phase, the need for creating an improved environment for tradition and post-tradition foreign-born students, and the impact of mental health first aid.
The conference featured a keynote address by Vera Feuer, M.D., director of pediatric emergency psychiatry and behavioral health urgent care for Northwell Health and associate vice president of the system's School of Mental Health. In her discussion, she discussed the overall state of concern with adolescent behavioral and mental health wellness, recent rising statistics on anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use, the impacts of social media and tech-based addictions in adolescents, and how to identify appropriate resources and coping skills.
The event also featured a "College Connections Expo" where counselors could get the latest information about new programs, facilities and opportunities available for students at area colleges and universities.