Dr. Lauren D’Mello is a mental health clinician and public health strategist with more than ten years of experience providing direct services and access to care in the City of New York public sector.

Dr. D’Mello currently serves as the Executive Director of Mental Health and Care Coordination at the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services, where she provides a critical role in service delivery, overseeing teams that provide connections to Mental Health programs, Veterans’ Benefits Navigation, Employment, Food Assistance, Healthcare Insurance, Health Care coordination, and other essential needs for NYC’s 210,000 Veterans.

Lauren coordinates and facilitates the NYC Veterans’ Mental Health Coalition (VMHC), currently comprised of mental health organizational leaders, clinicians, researchers, and governmental agencies throughout the U.S. who meet monthly to discuss research, disseminate information on programs for more targeted interventions, discusses best practices and nuances within service delivery, and examine federal policies and laws affecting the mental health landscape for Veterans.

In her previous role, Dr. D’Mello Lauren served as School Mental Health Manager for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she worked with dozens of NYC public schools, advising school leadership on mental health improvement strategies. Using assessments and community partnerships, Lauren has connected dozens of essential programs and resources for children, families, and school staff. Lauren has also served as a Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist for the NYC Department of Education and a Crisis Counselor at the National Suicide Prevention Line, helping high-risk individuals.

Dr. D’Mello has earned a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) in Health and Behavioral Studies from Columbia University, an M.A. in Health Education from Columbia University, an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University, and a B.S. in Psychology from SUNY Stony Brook University. Lauren has completed the Women’s Leadership program at Yale School of Management and has become a certified NYS Public Health Leader through Cornell University.