Youth in Crisis Mental Illness Awareness Conference
Contact: Barbara Thompson, Media Liaison, Barb@nami-eastside.org; 425-885-NAMI (6264); 425-885-3042 (Fax); www.nami-eastside.org.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Eastside and its sponsors are pleased to announce our Youth in Crisis conference to be held on Saturday, March 9 at the Northshore Baptist Church at 10301 NE 145th St. in Kirkland from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
The heartbreaking tragedies that occurred in recent weeks both in Connecticut and Oregon, highlight the serious mental health issues facing our local communities and the nation. NAMI’s conference goals are to educate families, mental health providers and educators; to help them identify the early warning signs of mental illness, especially as it relates to lethal violence and suicide in our youth; give hope to those facing a mental health crisis and to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
The conference will start with a Keynote Speech presented by Dan Reidenberg, PsyD , Director of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education). Dr. Reidenberg also serves as Managing Director of the National Council for Suicide Prevention and is the US Representative to the International Association for Suicide Prevention. He is on the Steering Committees of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. He is also the Chair of the American Psychotherapy Association Advisory Board and the Chair of the Certified Relationship Specialists Board.
Throughout the day, several interactive workshops are offered in which panelists, each with particular training and expertise in that panel’s focus will present and interact with the conference attendees.
Workshop topics cover: Suicide Prevention; Eating Disorders; Mood, Anxiety and Psychotic Disorders; Special Mental Health Needs; Community Mental Health Support Services; Legal and Educational Issues Related to Mental Illness; Co-occurring Conditions; and a Town Hall Forum: Mental Illness in Families: Impact and Perspective.
The conference is free however, space is limited and registration will be on a first come/first served basis. It is recommend to pre-register by calling 425-885-6264.
For more information on the Youth in Crisis Conference and schedule or if you wish to donate to NAMI please visit the NAMI web site: www.nami-eastside.org.
