Physical and mental health are connected in so many ways. It’s important to be mindful about making healthy lifestyle choices, developing a realistic plan to commit to healthy habits, and then following through with sustained action and support from others who can help you stay on track.
For over 24 years, David Susman, PhD worked at Eastern State Hospital, a public psychiatric hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Along with his work teams, he provided care to over 50,000 adults with serious mental illness and substance use issues. He was the founding director of the hospital’s Recovery Mall, an award-winning recovery and rehabilitation program. Dr. Susman also worked as a clinical faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, where he trained hundreds of doctoral students in clinical psychology.
Currently, Dr. Susman serves as Executive Advisor for Clinical Services in the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. In this role, he leads and coordinates projects to remove barriers and improve access to behavioral health care for citizens throughout Kentucky.
Dr. Susman has been active in mental health advocacy initiatives and psychology leadership at the state and national levels. He served as President of the Kentucky Psychological Association (KPA) and is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). He currently serves in APA governance on its Council Leadership Team.
Dr. Susman is active in social media and authors a mental health and advocacy blog at davidsusman.com, which has been recognized in several lists of top mental health blogs. He also features dozens of “Stories of Hope,” interviews with people who share their challenges and successes from their personal mental health journeys. He is a regular contributor to PsychologyToday.com and has been cited in numerous media outlets.
Dr. Susman received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky.
His training and employment as a clinical psychologist has included work in psychiatric hospitals, mental health centers, colleges and universities, state government, a Federal prison, and a veterans hospital.
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