Fourth Annual Symposium on Mental Health Awareness

Fourth Annual Symposium on Mental Health Awareness From Substance Use and Alienation to Recovering Citizenship. October 26, 2019, from 8:30am to 2:00pm Registration: grazreis@hotmail.com; Graziela Reis, (203) 824-2278, grazreis@hotmail.com

Hamden, CT. On Saturday, October 26 the Unitarian Society of New Haven will host a symposium on mental health awareness that will focus on the impact of substance use in people life. Statistics reveal a sharp spike between 1999 and 2008 in deaths from overdoses of opioid pain relievers, helping to make drug overdose deaths almost as prevalent as the leading cause of injury death (motor vehicle accidents) in the US (Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). In 2018 the numbers of overdose are very high, especially in Connecticut when you compare with the numbers in the U.S.

Participants will learn from and engage with an array of experts, including mental health professionals, people with lived experience with mental illness and substance use, community and family members.

The focus for the day is for participants to develop a plan for community engagement and identifying needed and appropriate actions in five topic areas: From Substance Use and Alienation to Recovering Citizenship. The goal is to identify the most critical needs and develop strategies for continued community engagement and investment, and opportunities to create partnerships with other individuals and groups to provide the information, resources, care, and support in our communities and state.

Speakers:

Jennifer Chadukiewicz is a recovery coach program manager she oversees all aspects of the ED Recovery Coach Program for CCAR. She is also co-chairs the Alcohol and Drug Policy Sub-Committee for Recovery and Health Management.

Graziela Reis is MPH, Post Master in Trauma Informed Care, psychologist. She is project coordinator at Yale/PRCH. Department of Psychiatry/Yale University School of Medicine. Co-chair at Mental Health Awareness Task Force/USNH.

Facilitator: Mariana Budge, is a second-year medical student at Yale School of Medicine. She is originally from Chelsea, MA and a strong connection to her Peruvian roots. Her interests include health advocacy, mental health disparities and primary care.

Dean Leone, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist specializing in addiction treatment who is certified as a Harm Reduction Addiction Therapist. He is in private practice with offices in Guilford and Westport.

Crusita Lopez, is a psychiatric technician specializing in Mental Health and Addiction treatment. I was recently ordained as a Minister thru Embassy of United Chaplains. In June of 2019 I completed 3 years of Bible Institute thru Global University. I am also a certified Chaplain and IMANI Latino facilitator.

Luciana McClure is a fine art photographer, independent curator, educator, a selfless advocate and a fierce motivator of social change through artistic expression and activism. She is the founding organizer of the Nasty Women Movement in Connecticut and leads Nasty Women Connecticut.

Facilitator: Bruce A. Levison, LCSW, is semi-retired and has a small clinical practice in Middletown. He has worked in substance abuse in many settings, including detox, child welfare, alcohol education and services planning, a hospital, a mental health clinic, and an outreach program with elderly alcoholics.

830-9AM- Regisration-light breakfast and lunch will be served.

The event is free but you are free to give a donation at the door.