Community invited to A.S.A.P.’s Mental Health Awareness event next Sunday at Epiphany
UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS
An evening for teengers and adults
After two young people died by suicide, members of Epiphany United Methodist Church formed the Andrew’s Suicide And Prevention (A.S.A.P.) organization, to educate themselves, and the Loveland community. They have decided to follow-up their very successful and well attended, Mental Health Awareness event with a second. It will be next Sunday, January 18 beginning at 6 PM.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Paul Keck, President and CEO of the Linder Center of Hope, a nonprofit, mental health center located in Mason. His talk will be followed by a panel of local individuals who have been impacted by mental illness who will share their journey and answer questions.
Keck, a researcher in Bipolar Disorder and psychopharmacology, is the author of over 525 scientific papers in leading medical journals and was the 7th most cited scientist in the world published in the fields of psychiatry and psychology over the past decade. He has also contributed over 170 reviews and chapters to major psychiatric textbooks.
Keck is the editor or author of 6 scientific books and serves on the editorial boards of 7 journals. He also served on the American Psychiatric Association’s Workgroup to Develop Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Patients with Bipolar Disorders and on the APA Institute for Research and Education.
Unique to this information night, according to Rev. Lisa Kerwin, is that a parent of an adult with a mental illness will be on the panel and discuss their experience and will be available to answer questions from the public. Kerwin has an adult son who has been treated for mental illness.
An evening for teengers and adults
Kerwin is the Pastor of Care Ministries and Congregational Life at Epiphany, and is helping to organize the event. She said, “Teens and adults can expect to go home with a little bit of better understanding.” She believes that even one night’s worth of understanding will be helpful, especially to parents of youth or young adults. She said, “That is often when mental illness first shows itself.”
“Attendees will have a better understanding of what mental illness is… what to look for… and what is different about mental illness than just typical bad behavior in teenagers, said Kerwin. “There is a difference, and parents and other teenagers should know what to look out for and of course, how to get help – and where to get help.”
Following the keynote by Dr. Keck, a panel of four who have personal experience with suicide and mental health issues will share their own stories. Then the audience will have a chance to ask their questions of the panel and Dr. Keck.
Joe Lynch, parent of Andrew, who A.S.A.P is named for, will be the moderator. Lynch said, “As at he last time we did one of these events, we will have people there who can answer questions and you can even talk to individuals, one-on-one. It was a very beneficial to have a panel of individuals who have been impacted by mental illness, to share their journey and answer questions.”
For more information: [email protected] or 513-677-9866.
Epiphany is located next to the Oasis Golf Club at at 6635 Loveland-Miamiville Road. DIRECTIONS
Below is a “Milestones” interview with Dr. Paul E. Keck, CEO, Lindner Center of HOPE.
At A.S.A.P.’s Mental Health Awareness event you can meet Dr. Keck personally and are invited to ask him your own questions.
