Hospitality Diversity and Mental Health

Brandon J. Johnson, MHS

Brandon J. Johnson, MHS, MCHES is a tireless advocate for positive mental health and suicide prevention services for youth and adults across the country. Brandon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morgan State University in 2008 and a Master of Health Science Degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2012. Currently, he serves as a Public Health Advisor at the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the Suicide Prevention Branch at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, Brandon serves as a Government Project Officer (GPO) for various suicide prevention grant programs that respectively target youth, adults, and health care systems. Brandon is also the GPO for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) which provides suicide-specific materials, webinars, and training to organizations and communities all over the country working to prevent suicides. Another highlight of Brandon’s career is his current role as the Co-Lead of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Faith Communities Task Force. The group works with faith communities all over the nation to equip them with tools and resources to combat the often stigmatized issue of suicide. Brandon serves as the subject matter expert in suicide among Black people and has lead numerous projects to develop resources and materials to specifically prevent suicide among African-American youth. Brandon is the creator of “The Black Mental Wellness Lounge,” a YouTube channel dedicated to discussing Black mental health and healing. The Black Mental Wellness Lounge is his YouTube page dedicated to the promotion of Black mental health tips, education, and resources for the community. Previously, Brandon served as the Director of Suicide and Violence Prevention for the State of Maryland where he worked in communities throughout the state to help develop strategies to end violence in various forms, such as community violence and human trafficking. In this role, Brandon also worked on the MD Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention as well as organized the annual Suicide Prevention Conference.

Abigail Asper, MSW

Abigail Asper was Psych Hub's Clinical Research Manager from 2019 to 2021. During her time at Psych Hub she was responsible for ensuring that Psych Hub videos and learning hubs are evidence-based, clinically  sound, and trauma-informed as well, overseeing Psych Hub content research and continuing education initiatives.  Along with lived experience of mental illness and losing a loved one to suicide, Ms. Asper has years of professional  experience in mental health, social justice, and clinical settings. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from College of  Charleston Honors College and a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University Graduate School of Social  Service. Before joining the Psych Hub team, she worked as an NGO Representative to the United Nations for the  International Federation of Social Workers, a case manager on an assertive community treatment team for older  adults with serious mental illnesses, a victim advocate at a rape crisis center, and a phone counselor at a crisis  hotline. She is also a published author, editor, and researcher. Most recently, she was an editor of Behavioral Science  in the Global Arena, Volume I , a text for which she authored two chapters: “Migrant Adaptation and Well-Being” and  “Gender Equity and Reproductive Justice”.