New London ― A behavioral health forum at the Garde Arts Center was postponed Wednesday just hours before its scheduled 5 p.m. start.

“Unfortunately, we need to postpone this afternoon’s community forum at the Garde Arts Center to a future date,” Fiona Phelan, media relations manager for Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, announced shortly before 2:30 p.m. “We recognize how important this issue is and intend to reschedule when we can discuss the behavioral health crisis as part of a larger community-wide collaborative conversation.”

Eighty-six people had registered for the forum in advance, with many submitting questions that were to be handled by a panel of behavioral health experts. Phelan said the registrants were notified of the postponement by email.

Walk-up attendees also were expected at the forum.

Sponsored by the L+M auxiliary, the forum was to feature a discussion of the resources available at L+M and in the community for providers, caregivers, families and those in crisis. Panelists were to include Dr. Shanthi Mogali, chairman of psychiatry, and Dr. Ashley Coughlin, medical director of Intensive Outpatient Services.