Zaria's Song to Hold Children's Mental Health Connection Workshop

Atlanta, GA…Wednesday, April 20, 2019…According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), fifty percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. Recognizing red flags when it comes to mental illness in children can be especially difficult for parents and as a result, children who could benefit from receiving treatment often don’t get the help they need. One Atlanta organization working to remedy that burgeoning issue, is offering a workshop addressing children’s mental health in May, in celebration of children’s mental health awareness month.

Zaria’s Song, a family run grass roots organization that provides monthly support and resources to parents and caregivers with physical, cognitive, behavioral and mental health challenges, has been conducting the Children’s Mental Health Connection Workshops for the past eight years. Founded by Teresa Wright Johnson, Zaria’s Song was created as a result of Wright-Johnson’s own experience with the tragic loss of her daughter with special needs, and not knowing where to go for help.

“Parents of children with mental health challenges often see warning signs but don’t know how to help their children,” says Wright-Johnson, an author, special needs advocate, certified speaker with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and a local chapter leader of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. “Due to the stigma associated with mental illness, many parents are in denial about the reality of their situations and don’t seek out the help they need for their children and themselves,” she explained. “We’re doing what we can to share relevant and necessary information particularly during Children’s Health Awareness Month, to help more parents help their children in a family-friendly, understanding environment."

The highly anticipated annual Children’s Mental Health Connection Workshop, will be hosted at the Atlanta offices of Parent to Parent , a national special needs support group and will feature speakers covering key topics including recognizing learning disabilities, understanding behavioral prescriptions and medications for children, challenges in care giving and effective advocacy for children and families. In addition to Wright-Johnson, speakers include Leslie Lipson, an educational, legal and strategy specialist; Joan Teach, founder, Impact ADHD; KaCey Venning, co-founder, Helping Empower Youth; Dr. Jerrica Dodd, CEO,Your Pharmacy Advocate and Doria Harris, founder, Great Day Family Connection.

“Our speakers are both trained and motivated to not only share vital information, but to also offer real support to the families attending this workshop,” shared Wright-Johnson, who is also an author and sought-after speaker on various issues surrounding special needs advocacy. “There will be very valuable information shared at the workshop and we encourage parents who have any questions about their child’s behavioral or mental health, to attend and get the information they need,” she said.

The Children’s Mental Health Connection Workshop is free to the public and will be held on Friday, May 10 from 10:30a.m. to 2:00p.m., at Parent to Parent located at 3070 Presidential Parkway, Ste. 130, Atlanta, GA 30340. To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-mental-health-connection-celebration-event-tickets-58873968625#tickets.

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