The Dorchester Reporter, November 2025
Members in a day-long summit at Northeastern University (NU) last week took a deep dive into the challenges facing Bostonians confronting mental health issues while also juggling the many stressors of city life.
The event, convened by the Boston Public Health Commission and NU’s Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research, included candid discussions about the connections between “social determinants” like poverty, housing stress, and systemic racism.
Speakers included Michael Curry, a Roxbury native who is now president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, who said that mental health is often considered the “caboose of healthcare.”
“It’s the afterthought when we talk about diabetes and heart disease, and cancer, but I would argue you can’t have physical health unless you got mental health,” said Curry.
Samara Grossman, director of BPHC’s Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness, said that the purpose of the day-long conference was “to learn from each other, share strategies, and envision new ways to address social determinants of mental health so that all Boston youth, families, elders, and communities have the support they need to flourish.
