Real Talk: NAMI-NYC’s Men’s Mental Health Panel

Zoom link to join

June is Men’s Health Month. Join NAMI-NYC virtually on Wednesday, June 24, 6 – 7:30 PM for an honest and impactful conversation on men’s mental health. During this event, panelists John Cornelious, William Kim, David Plotka, and Yasbert A. Soberal Perez will discuss the pressures, barriers, and breakthroughs that shape how men experience and talk about mental health today. Moderated by NAMI-NYC Volunteer Larry Bryant.

We will discuss:

• How expectations around masculinity shape the way men seek help for mental health
• The barriers that prevent access to care, and how systems can better meet needs
• Strategies for finding help, supporting others, and redefining mental health conversations

Moderator

Larry Bryant (he, him) has been a part of the NAMI-NYC community since 2016 as a member of the staff, joining on as support programs coordinator until 2019.

After departing, Larry continued his relationship with NAMI-NYC as a regular peer support group facilitator and host for groups like the Black Minds Matter peer support group and the Peer-to-Peer Graduates support group.

Larry also regularly co-leads a NAMI-NYC Peer-to-Peer Class, the free 8-week class for adults living with a mental health challenge seeking to better understand their condition and the journey toward recovery. Most recently, Larry completed the training necessary to become a Peer-to-Peer State Trainer and is excited to have the opportunity to support the growth and development of other peer leaders, particularly Black and Brown men of all ages.

A native Washingtonian, Larry has been a proud resident of the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, now with his wife Leanna and Button, our Frenchie, since 2013. Our family now calls Phoenix (AZ) home, and we remain firmly (though virtually) connected to the NAMI-NYC and NAMI-NY communities while settling in with our new NAMI Arizona family.

Panelists

John Cornelius is a Lakota/Oneida Peer Support Specialist, suicide prevention educator, attempt survivor, speaker, poet, artist, veteran, father, and founder of Cornelius Consulting & Construction. Raised between cultures and shaped by experiences with homelessness, addiction, recovery, faith, fatherhood, and military service, John often describes himself as a “Rez kid turned recovery advocate.” His work focuses on bridging lived experience, cultural identity, Ceremony, and modern mental health practices to help others find connection, purpose, and hope. Through speaking, outreach, music, and his “Hope Mobile” initiative, John continues his mission of life preservation and reminding people that healing is possible and Hope is on the move.

William Kim is a community builder with over a decade of experience creating people-centered communities across nonprofit, faith-based, and organizational settings. His work focuses on cultivating trust, developing peer leadership, and fostering spaces where individuals can connect, heal, and grow. He has led initiatives centered on mental health, youth development, and social impact through collaborations with nonprofits and grassroots organizations across New York City. William previously served as a Peer Support Groups Coordinator at NAMI-NYC and currently serves as Community Building Associate at YS Kim Foundation, where he helps strengthen the Korean American youth and young professional community through programming, partnerships, and relationship-building.

David Plotka is the Chief Program Officer (CPO) of Venture House, an NYC community-based non-profit, dedicated to supporting the wellness and recovery of individuals living with mental health challenges. He is a New York State Licensed Social Worker (LMSW) and a Faculty Member of Clubhouse International with 38 years of community-based mental health experience, including 26 in a management capacity. David has dedicated his professional career to bettering the lives of people with serious mental health conditions. A staunch advocate for better overall mental health services, David believes there should be easier access to evidence-based models of psychiatric recovery, such as Accredited Clubhouses.

Yasbert A. Soberal Perez was born and raised in Puerto Rico but has been living in NYC for the past 7 years. He received his undergraduate degree in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University, and currently, he is an MPH candidate at the CUNY School of Public Health. As a public health professional, he has worked in case management and health education and has facilitated workshops in various organizations focusing on HIV treatment, prevention, and education. He currently works as an HIV care coordinator at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he uses a patient-focused, trauma-informed approach to provide linkage to care services and education to patients. Yasbert’s goal has always been to help underserved populations gain knowledge and skills to holistically improve their health.