Christy Buck

Christy Buck, LBSW – Executive Director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan

With over 38 years of experience in mental health, Christy passionately leads the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. Her desire for transforming and saving lives through mental health education led her to develop two programs - be nice. and be nice. extension and becoming a certified instructor in Mental Health First Aid and QPR. Christy and her staff have educated thousands of individuals each year through their education programs and other various speaking engagements and presentations throughout Michigan and other states. 

Christy is recognized as a leader in the community in regards to mental health, suicide prevention and stigma reduction and served on many task forces/committees along with serving as a Trustee on the Grandville Public School Board for 10 years. Within her Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church community, she has served as the Youth Advisor and instructed Religious Education for 30 years. She also had the honor of being a keynote and or presenter nationally at many GOC Diocese Retreats and Conferences (YAL, GOYA, Holy Cross Seminary, Camp Counselors and Holy Unmercenaries).

 Christy and her husband Tim are proud parents of amazing children and grandchildren - Demetrios (Photini - Teddy and Christiani), Katerina (Mark - Joey) and Isabella. Christy is a graduate of Michigan State University.

WORKSHOP TITLE AND ABSTRACT

be nice. A Practical Plan to Respond to Kids Mental Health 

How to respond to kids' thoughts, actions and feelings (mental health) is key to being effective in camp/youth ministry. In this session, you will learn a four-step practical action plan to identify and handle situations that you may face at camp or youth programs. be nice. is an evidenced based action plan for mental health suicide prevention. This plan has proven to increase mental health awareness and improve climate and connectedness while increasing positive behaviors.