SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, we’re joined by Tory Bright, Director of the Southeastern Regional Mental Health Services Coordination Office. Representing five Pennsylvania counties, Tory shares her powerful insight into the evolution of the public mental health system—discussing key shifts in crisis response, the impact of closing civil beds at Norristown State Hospital, and the need for coordinated, compassionate alternatives to incarceration.

She dives into her work around co-responder programs, reentry planning, and the importance of data-informed decisions and community partnerships. Listeners will also learn more about Mental Health First Aid and the pivotal role of organizations like NAMI in creating lasting change.

Whether you're a policymaker, service provider, or community member, this conversation will broaden your understanding of the challenges and opportunities in mental health today.

GUEST BIO:

Tory Bright is the Director of the Southeastern Regional Mental Health Services Coordination Office, serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. With over 30 years of experience in public mental health, she has played a central role in advancing community-based care models, co-responder programs, and reentry services. Tory is deeply committed to collaboration across systems and brings a trauma-informed, person-centered lens to her work. A former case manager and crisis worker, she now helps shape policy and coordinate services across Pennsylvania’s southeastern region.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Mental Health First Aid Trainings: www.fivecountymh.org
• NAMI Montgomery County PA: https://namimontcopa.org
• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988): https://988lifeline.org

SPONSORS:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company serving the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.