Yavapai County Community Health

Thank you for a successful Youth Mental Health Summit, stay tuned for next year’s conference information!

Youth Mental Health Summit

Monday • July 24

Want to Help Our Youth Thrive?

Join us for a Youth Mental Health Summit to help and support children, teens and young adults in navigating the challenges of today.

Join us for this one-day educational event to hear from experts in different areas.  Together we will address topics such as brain development, anxiety, and stress–and many more mental health topics.  By learning and understanding their concerns, we can better provide resources and support to these young people as they grow.

About Our Presenters

Denise Beagley, M.Sc. is the owner of Beagley Consulting, Associate Director at Banner University Health Plans, Crisis and Justice Systems programs, and Faculty Associate at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work. She also works part-time as a Crisis Intervention Specialist for Chandler Fire Department.

She has worked within the behavioral health system since 2002. Prior to working in Arizona, she completed her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Denise’s work has predominately intersected at Criminal Justice and Psychology. While at Trinity College, her research focused on the Garda Síochána (police force in Ireland) and working under stress.

Since 2005, Denise has served as an adjunct faculty for the Office of the Courts, Arizona Probation and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) instructor within Maricopa County. Denise was recently appointed to the Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and serves as a commissioner. Denise has over 20 years of experience working under the umbrella of Psychology and Public Safety and serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to internal and external ASU departments and provider companies.

Dr. Tommy K. Begay is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona. He is a Cultural Psychologist by academic training, focusing on the interrelationship of culture, biology, and environment, to understand human behavior as applicable to health and wellness.

From this approach, cognition, and human development – specifically, neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity – depend upon environmental stimulation provided through social interaction, context, and culture. Dr. Begay provides psychosocial health education lectures, seminars, and workshops on topics relevant to behavior modification and behavioral health. Often, focusing on the developmental process of the “culture of maladaptive behaviors” (self-medication, addiction, and violence) linked with toxic stress, adverse childhood experiences, and maladaptive coping skills.

Factors that are associated with self-harm, substance abuse, violence, and low academic achievement – potential antecedents of poor health, criminal behavior, and early death.

*Deadline to submit is May 31, 2023

Youth Mental Health

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