Edgar K. Wiggins, MHS

Edgar Wiggins is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Wiggins completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mental Health Technology from Hahnemann College of Allied Health Sciences and received his Masters of Human Services Degree from Lincoln University. Mr. Wiggins is the Executive Director of Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc. In this capacity, he functions as the Chief Executive Officer and oversees the operations of BCRI, a community-based mental health crisis intervention organization. Mr. Wiggins has been involved in several mental health organizations for over the last thirty years. He has served as the Executive Director of the Black Mental Health Alliance, Director of Psychiatric Clinics at the Charles Drew Community Mental Health Center, and Day Hospital Director at COMHAR, Inc. Prior to accepting management positions, Mr. Wiggins held numerous clinical positions as a psychotherapist providing individual, group and family therapy. Mr. Wiggins has also served as a consultant and trainer to a variety of public and private organizations including Yale Department of Psychiatry Mobile Crisis Team, Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Psychiatry and the DC Bureau of Mental Health. He was selected to travel to Cuba as part of a delegation of health professionals and city governmental officials. Mr. Wiggins has provided training to police, paramedics, and 911 operators regarding the management of mental health emergencies. He is a past Executive Board member of the American Association of Emergency Psychiatry. Currently he serves on the Boards of the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry and the National Family Resiliency Center. Mr. Wiggins specializes in cultural sensitivity and efficacy, minority mental health, and crisis intervention. Mr. Wiggins is a sought after speaker who presents regularly at The Annual Maryland Youth Suicide Prevention Conference and other local and regional symposia. Mr. Wiggins has lectured at George Washington University, Temple University, and Hahnemann University. He also was the Grand Rounds speaker for Wake Forest University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He has appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts, including “In Your Interest,” “Two Way Talk,” “Fresh Focus,” profile on Baltimore,” and “The Mark Steiner Show.” Mr. Wiggins has also developed and hosts “MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS” a program that is broadcast in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. This program is dedicated to providing practical and useful information regarding mental health issues and needs. Mr. Wiggins is the recipient of many awards, including awards from the Mental Health Association, the Anti Stigma Project, the National Association of Health Services Executives, and the Governor’s Citation for Suicide Prevention. The program, Mental Health Matters, won the Cameo Award for excellence in public access television programming in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 2005 he received the Mental Health Professional of the Year Award from National Alliance of The Mentally Ill. In 2006 Mr. Wiggins received the Outstanding Merit Award from the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry, in 2007 he received the Heroes Award from NAMI and in 2008 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mental Health Association. Mr. Wiggins received the Excellence in Community Mental Health Services Award from NAMI 2010. In 2011 Mr. Wiggins received the Governor’s Citation for Inspiring Leadership and Service, he received the Mayor’s Certificate of Recognition and he also received the NAMI Maryland Certificate for Service and Leadership. In 2012 Mr. Wiggins received a Certificate of Special Recognition from the Baltimore City Police Department for police training. In 2013 Mr. Wiggins received the Visionary Award from the Anti-Stigma Project of On Our Own of Maryland, Inc. and the Honorable Judge Robert M. Bell Excellence in Community Service Award from the Sojourner-Douglass College.