Mental Health News Education, Inc. (MHNE), founded in 1999, is the publisher of two award-winning publications: Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health 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 Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News.

Ira is a survivor of mental illness that began in his mid-30s. His 10-year life and death battle with treatment-resistant depression left him homeless, destitute, and forced him to begin his life all over again. His son David grew up in the shadow of his father’s illness and witnessed firsthand how a mental illness and the stigma attached to it can bring even the strongest person to their knees.

In his recovery, Ira realized that there was a gap in the recovery model of our mental health system as, at that time, there were no educational publications that reached consumers and their distressed families to provide information on treatment options, coping strategies, and community resources available to them in their community.

Motivated by his personal experience and a desire for something better, Ira set out to address this unmet need to improve the lives of consumers living with mental illness and their families. With the help of many dedicated and supportive leaders in the mental health community, he created a quarterly newspaper in 1999 called Mental Health News, which in 2013 became Behavioral Health News to also address the needs of the substance use disorder community.

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 launch Autism Spectrum News with a mission improving lives by of providing a trusted resource of safe and proven-effective education and information for the autism community.

In keeping with the publication’s evidence-based mission, Autism Spectrum News has an esteemed Editorial Board that will only accept articles and advertising offering science-based information and/or promoting treatments that have been proven safe and effective for autistic individuals.

Mental Health News Education (MHNE), publisher of Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to improving the lives of individuals living with autism, mental illness, and substance use disorders as well as their families and the professional communities that serve them by providing a trusted source of science-based information, education, advocacy, and quality resources in the community.

Today, Autism Spectrum News and Behavioral Health News are online publications with a combined annual readership of over 500,000 providing free access to over 2,500 educational articles. While the publications have evolved over the years, Ira and David continue their unwavering commitment to their mission of providing hope and improving lives through education.

MHNE Board of Directors at the 2023 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

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/Founder
Dr. JPetit Psychiatry Services

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, advocates, 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

Monica E. Carr, PhD, Researcher
The University of Melbourne, Australia

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, Professor Emeritus
C.W. Post Campus / Long Island University and Pace 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 publisher 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 publisher and the Editorial Board accept no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any such inaccurate or misleading data, information, opinion or statement.