Mental Health News Education, Inc. (MHNE), founded in 1999, is the publisher of two award-winning publications: Behavioral Health News and Autism Spectrum News. Both quarterly publications provide essential science-based information, education, advocacy, and a roadmap to community resources for individuals and families coping with mental illness, autism spectrum disorders, and substance use disorder issues.

MHNE provides hope through education and supports the good works of the many provider agencies across the US that are saving lives every day. MHNE provides a forum for ideas and a unified voice which brings the pressing concerns and vital issues affecting the mental health, autism and substance use disorder community to the attention of legislators and decision makers who impact mental health policy and services. MHNE serves to unite and improve our evolving systems of care and works to address the harmful effects of the stigma which surrounds mental illness, autism and substance use disorders in the community.

The Father and Son Team Behind Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News

Ira and David Minot

Surviving an extreme hardship in a person’s life can often provide them with a unique perspective on the difficulties they have had to endure. It can also ultimately make them stronger and lead them down a path to helping others.

That is the story behind Ira and David Minot, the father and son team who publish Behavioral Health News and Autism Spectrum News.

Ira Minot, who founded Mental Health News in 1999 (now Behavioral Health News), is a survivor of mental illness that began in his mid-30s. His 10-year life and death battle with depression left him homeless, destitute and having to begin his life all over again. His son David grew up in the shadow of his father’s illness and witnessed firsthand how an illness and the stigma attached to it can bring even the strongest person to his knees.

Following his ten-year ordeal, Ira finally received the treatment that broke the chains of his depression. Out of the ashes of his illness, and with the support of many dedicated leaders of the mental health community, he created a small local newsletter dedicated to providing hope through education for people with mental illness and their families. Today, Behavioral Health News is the nation’s leading provider of evidence-based community mental health education.

Inspired by his father’s vision and with his own understanding of the importance of providing community education, David joined his father in 2007 to help launch and publish Autism Spectrum News.

Autism Spectrum News

With help from some of the nation’s leading minds in the field of autism and leaders of many of the northeast’s leading autism organizations, Autism Spectrum News premiered in the fall of 2008 and quickly set a new standard for science and evidence-based community education. Autism Spectrum News provides readers with a trusted source of strictly science and evidence-based educational articles and has a firm policy of only accepting advertising from organizations that meet the publication’s strict science based criteria. Autism Spectrum News has become a “must read” and a vital resource for families with children on the spectrum as well as for the treatment professionals and service providers that care for them.

Both Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News are online quarterly publications that reach over 360,000 consumers, families, treatment professionals, service providers, educators, and decision makers across the country. The nonprofit organization, Mental Health News Education, Inc., which is behind the award-winning publications, provides thousands of free copies of each issue to the community. In addition, the publications each have websites where current and back issues are posted for free reading: Autsm Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News.

MHNE Board of Directors at the 2019 Leadership Awards Reception

Mental Health News Education (MHNE), publisher of Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a trusted source of education, information and community resources on mental illness, addiction and substance use disorders, and autism spectrum disorders to consumers, families, and the professional community.

Chair

Rachel A. Fernbach, Esq., Executive Director and General Counsel
New York State Psychiatric Association

Vice-Chair

Yvette Brissett-André, MPA, Executive Director and CEO
Unique People Services

Secretary

Peter D. Beitchman, DSW, LMSW, Principal
Behavioral Health Consultation

Treasurer

Keri Primack, CFP, Managing Director, SVP, Senior Client Advisor
Quent Capital, LLC

Members of The Board

Anita Appel, LCSW, Senior Health Care Consultant
Sachs Policy Group

Mary Brite, LCSW, CASAC, Chief Compliance Officer
Outreach

Constance Y. Brown-Bellamy, MPA, President and Co-Founder
Advantage Mosaic Group

Jonathan P. Edwards, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, Program Consultant
NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Ann-Marie K. Foster, MPA, FACHE, President and CEO
Phoenix Houses of New York/Long Island

Debbie Pantin, MSW, MS-HCM, President and CEO
Outreach

Barry B. Perlman, MD, Past President
New York State Psychiatric Association

Jorge R. Petit, MD, President & CEO
Services for the UnderServed

Joshua Rubin, MPP, Principal
Health Management Associates

Jarod Stern, Senior Managing Director
Savills

Kimberly Williams, MSSW, President and CEO
Vibrant Emotional Health

Founding Chairman

Alan B. Siskind, PhD, LCSW

Executive Staff

Ira H. Minot, LMSW, Founder and Publisher, Behavioral Health News

David Minot, Executive Director and Publisher, Autism Spectrum News

The Autism Spectrum News Editorial Board is made up of esteemed autism professionals and self-advocates who have devoted their lives to improving the autism community.

* In keeping with the publication’s evidence-based mission, the ASN Editorial Board will only accept articles and advertising offering science-based information and/or promoting treatments proven safe and effective for autistic individuals.

Cindy Alterson, PhD, BCBA, Principal of Devereux NY CARES
Clinical Director, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health-New York

Joel Bregman, MD, Psychiatrist
United Community & Family Services

Joseph D. Buxbaum, PhD, Director
Seaver Autism Center – Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Susan Cortilet-Jones, MS, LMHC, Integrative Wellness Coach for Adults
Discovering Your World, Corp.

Lynda Geller, PhD, Founder, Spectrum Services
A Cooperative of Independent Practices & Organizations, NY, NY

Michael Gilberg, Esq.
Special Education Attorney, NY/CT

Ami Klin, PhD, Director
Marcus Autism Center

Becca Lory Hector, CAS, BCCS
Autism, Neurodiversity, & Inclusion Consultant/Speaker/Author/Advocate

Cecelia M. McCarton, MD, Founder and Executive Director
The McCarton Foundation, The McCarton School (for Autism)

Judith R. Omidvaran
Autism Parent Advocate, New York

Theresa Pirraglia, Co-Founder and Board Member
FECA, The Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism

Howard Savin, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer
First Children Services

Pat Schissel, LMSW, Senior Clinician
Asperger/Autism Network (AANE)

Alison Singer, President
Autism Science Foundation

Fred Volkmar, MD, Professor
Yale Child Study Center

Linda J. Walder, Esq., Founder and Executive Director
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation

Dianne Zager, PhD, Head of School Emerita, Shrub Oak International School
Professor Emeritus, C.W. Post, Long Island University

Disclaimer of Endorsement and Liability

• The information, opinions, and views presented in Autism Spectrum News (ASN) reflect the views of the authors and contributors of the articles and not of ASN, the ASN Editorial Board, or its publisher Mental Health News Education, Inc.
• Publication of articles, advertisements or product information does not constitute endorsement or approval by ASN and/or its publisher.
• ASN and/or its publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or for any consequences arising from the use of the information contained in this publication.
• Although every effort is made by the Editorial Board and the publishers to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinion or statement appear in this journal, the data and opinions appearing in the articles including editorials and advertisements herein are the responsibility of the contributors concerned.
• The publishers and the Editorial Board accept no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any such inaccurate or misleading data, information, opinion or statement.