Dr. Linda Hryhorczuk Returns to the Flinn Foundation Board

Dr. Linda Hryhorczuk is no stranger to the challenges and rewards of mental health advocacy. A seasoned psychiatrist with decades of experience in both child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatric care, she has dedicated her career to improving access to mental health services in southeast Michigan. Now, she is bringing her expertise back to the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation as a returning member of its Board of Trustees.

A career rooted in service

Dr. Hryhorczuk’s career in psychiatry has been long and varied. Initially specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry, she spent years working with young people in critical need of mental health support. Before retiring from full-time work in 2011, she served as the director of mental health services at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility. There, she witnessed firsthand the struggles of vulnerable youth in the system and the gradual decline of essential mental health resources over time.

Since her retirement, Dr. Hryhorczuk has continued to work part-time at Corewell Health East in Grosse Pointe, where she now focuses primarily on adult psychiatric care. In her current role, she sees many patients struggling with serious mental health challenges, including substance use disorders and early-stage dementia. Her deep understanding of these issues, particularly the long-term consequences of insufficient mental health support for children, makes her a valuable voice on the Flinn Foundation board.

Returning to the Flinn Foundation

Dr. Hryhorczuk first joined the Flinn Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2010 and served until 2018. She was originally recruited through her involvement with the Mental Health Association. When she completed her service on the Board, she remained a firm believer in the Foundation’s mission: to fund innovative mental health initiatives that help people access critical services.

As Dr. Hryhorczuk returns to the Board, she is eager to contribute once again. “I think it’s a very fine Foundation that does good work in the community,” she says, adding that she appreciates the Foundation’s focus on funding initiatives that help organizations become self-sustaining over time.

She credits fellow Board member Chief Judge Freddie Burton, Jr. with encouraging her to rejoin, and she is looking forward to lending her expertise in psychiatry to help shape funding decisions.

The mental health crisis in southeast Michigan

As she steps back into her role with the Flinn Foundation, Dr. Hryhorczuk is keenly aware of the ongoing crisis in mental health care. “I started a long time ago when we were probably seventh in the country with mental health in Michigan — that has evaporated,” she says.

One of her chief concerns is the decline in services for children and adolescents. “I have always felt that children were always at the bottom of the totem pole,” she explains, adding that the service gap for children still exists. Over the years, key programs — including school-based mental health services — have disappeared due to budget cuts, making it increasingly difficult for families to access care when they need it.

While she acknowledges that progress is being made in some areas, she believes much more needs to be done — especially in Detroit, where many families struggle to find timely mental health services. She stresses the importance of a comprehensive system that ensures children receive the appropriate level of care when they need it, whether through outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, or more intensive psychiatric support.

The role of the Flinn Foundation

As a board member, Dr. Hryhorczuk sees her role as twofold: ensuring that the Flinn Foundation continues to invest in meaningful mental health initiatives and advocating for a system that prioritizes access to care.

Beyond funding, she also emphasizes the critical role of advocacy in shaping mental health policy. 

“Advocacy has to do with legislation, budgets and how money is spent,” she explains. Advocacy organizations play a vital role in ensuring that access to care remains a legislative priority. “If budgets are cut, an advocacy group will go forward and testify in the legislature that these things are important,” she adds, underscoring the need for continuous advocacy to safeguard mental health resources.

Looking ahead

Despite the challenges ahead, Dr. Hryhorczuk remains committed to doing what she can to improve mental health care in Michigan. She also hopes to see a new generation of mental health professionals step up to meet the growing need.

With Dr. Hryhorczuk back on the Board, the Flinn Foundation gains not only a deeply experienced psychiatrist but also a passionate advocate for mental health care reform. Her return marks an important moment for the organization as it continues its mission to expand access to quality mental health services in Michigan.

Outside of her professional work, Dr. Hryhorczuk enjoys spending time with her family, which she describes as the central focus of her life. She and her husband are close to their immediate and extended family, appreciating the strong bonds they share.

Learn more about the Flinn Foundation. Visit flinnfoundation.org.