By: WEforum Group Editors
Honoring Karen Campi and Keeping Teen Mental Health at the Center of Community Care
It started with a simple question.
Not from a therapist. Not in a classroom.
But in a dental chair.
“How are you really doing?”
Karen Campi, longtime WEforum Executive Team member and VP of Marketing & Community Affairs at Campi Dental, saw something that others overlooked: that a dental visit might be one of the only private moments a teen has with a trusted adult. And what if that moment could become a lifeline?
This idea sparked “Making Dentists Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention”, a program Karen helped develop with the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS). The goal? Equip dental professionals to recognize signs of mental distress and open the door for meaningful intervention—one patient, one conversation, one life at a time.
This spring, Karen was honored by the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council with the 2025 Woman of Influence Award, presented at the prestigious Silver Gull Awards. Her recognition not only celebrates her leadership and decades of service through Campi Cares, but also shines a spotlight on the urgent and ongoing crisis in youth mental health—and how we can all play a part in supporting our teens.
At WEforum, we’re proud of Karen’s innovation and her unwavering commitment to turning community roles—like a dentist, a teacher, a coach—into powerful support systems for mental wellness. Her work with SPTS is a natural extension of WEforum’s mission: to educate, empower, and activate community health from every angle.
This past year, WEforum partnered with SPTS to host a series of Community Conversation events, bringing together parents, students, mental health professionals, and educators. These gatherings weren’t just about awareness—they were about connection. They gave space for people to talk openly, ask questions, and hear from experts on how we can support teens navigating anxiety, social pressure, and the post-pandemic landscape.
These events reminded us of something important: mental health doesn’t live in one office or one household. It lives in community. And the more we talk about it—in schools, in sports, at the dinner table, or even in the dental chair—the more we can shift the stigma and support our youth.
Karen’s recognition is a proud moment for all of us at WEforum. It’s also a call to keep the conversation going. Because when it comes to teen mental health, silence isn’t an option—and sometimes, the most powerful place to speak up is where you’d least expect it.
