Join us regularly as we dive into the mental health continuum exploring stories from professionals who are shaping the future of mental health wellness and care across New York City, and across the country.

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Yumiko Ikuta is a person living with bipolar disorder and the Director of Mental Health Access at the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health responsible for facilitating access to quality mental health services. Previously she was Director of Psychiatric Rehabilitation in the Bureau of Mental Health at the NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene for over 10 years where her Office oversaw non-clinical, psychiatric rehabilitation programs and services including peer support, peer specialist training, pre-vocational, supported employment, education support, clubhouses, self-help, advocacy, outreach, and an anti-stigma program. 
 
Yumiko’s experience in peer specialist education is extensive as the former Deputy Director of Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy Center and the former Program Manager of the Academy of Peer Services which is the training and testing center for NYS Peer Specialist Certification at Rutgers University, Dept. of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions. She worked closely with the NYS Office of Mental Health in Medicaid Redesign and the incorporation of billable psychiatric rehabilitation services. Prior to her career in the mental health field, Yumiko worked for over 15 years in the corporate sector in international marketing and economic development for the US Agency for International Development at the Dept. of State in several developing countries. Yumiko holds a BA in Economics and East Asian Studies and an MBA in Marketing and International Business both from Columbia University.