Q&A: Erica Floyd-Thomas on suicide prevention and behavioral health in Florida
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Erica Floyd-Thomas is the assistant secretary for substance abuse and mental health at the Florida Department of Children and Families. Thomas’ work encompasses everything from supporting community-based behavioral health services, to operating state mental hospitals, to overseeing mobile response teams for crisis stabilization. In Thomas’ words:
“If you can think about it in the behavioral health space, we are responsible for it.”
One of the department’s key developments during the pandemic was the implementation of the First Responder Suicide Deterrence Task Force within the Office of Suicide Prevention. This task force was assigned to meet throughout the year to address the needs of first responders who, according to Thomas, help Floridians in crisis but are often the last ones to seek mental health support themselves. The task force is currently finalizing its report
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