One in five Americans will have mental health problems in a given year. Unaddressed mental illness hurts individuals and their families and results in lost productivity.
In an effort to imitate conversation and relive the stigma surrounding mental health issues, the Daviess County Public Library will be hosting a forum, focusing on mental health in America. The event is 6-8 p.m. Thursday.
“The purpose of this program is to engage in friendly and open-minded discussion of topics that are often polarizing and without a definitive solution,” Lisa Maiden, Adult Programming Coordinator. “Our first forum will focus on mental health care in America. This is a topic that impacts not only the person suffering but their friends, family, and the work environment. People are often embarrassed to talk about mental health issues, and not always sure where they can turn to for help. Our hope is to create a safe environment that fosters communication and a better understanding of the issue at hand.”
Leading the discussion will be Mr. Mike Fulkerson. Fulkerson is the author of Treatment Planning from a Reality Therapy Perspective, and is the Program Manager of Therapeutic Community Support Services at RiverValley Behavioral Health.
The program will address the following question: How can we reduce the impact of mental illness in America? And will touch on the following topics of discussion:
1. Put safety first.
2. Ensure mental health services are available to all who need them.
3. Let people plot their own course.
Registration is required for this event, with only 30 seats available. To register, visit http://dcplibrary.evanced.info/signup.
To learn more about the program contact Lisa Maiden, Adult Programming Coordinator, 270-684-0211, ext. 232 or by email at [email protected].
