Mental Health Conference Open to the Public and Mental Health Professionals to Take Place in Evanston on June 5

Mental health professionals and members of the public who want to learn more about mental health issues will have the opportunity to gain knowledge from several experts at the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute (NRCI) for Mental Health Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s 15th Annual Community Mental Health Conference. The conference will cover many pressing issues including reducing stigma, identifying mental health issues in adolescents, and addiction and recovery.

The conference will also feature dynamic speakers:

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who will speak about how the mentally ill are treated in the justice system and what needs to be done to affect change.

Temple University’s Dr. Mark Salzer, director of the Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities, who will speak about inclusion of mentally ill individuals.

Jesse Teverbaugh, director of Student and Alumni Affairs at The Cara Program, who will speak about breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

Titled “Mental Health: Why does it Matter? A Compassionate Community Responds” the conference opens on June 5 at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue at 1224 W. Dempster, Evanston, IL, and will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“How our community responds to compelling mental health needs in these challenging economic and social times is a critical issue. The 2016 Community Mental Health Conference will address this question,” said Lawrence Cohen, NRCI founder. “This conference is designed not only to inform and teach, but also to enable us all to learn more about the most vulnerable in our society, and how each of us can help.”

“The mentally ill have been systematically neglected and demonized and ultimately criminalized in this country. Let us finally prioritize mental health and see justice for the mentally ill out of respect for their humanity, not of our fear,” said Sheriff Dart.

The conference is underwritten by the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, the nation’s leading nonprofit graduate university devoted exclusively to the study of psychology and related behavioral health sciences.

“The NRCI conference is essential to continue the dialogue about reducing stigma related to mental illness and annually shines a light on the issue of mental health for many in the Chicagoland area,” said Tiffany Masson, Psy.D., interim campus dean, Chicago Campus, The Chicago School and moderator of this year’s conference. “The Chicago School community looks forward to the conference every year because we know that every workshop and speaker will broaden our view of mental health and how all of us as a community can make a difference.”

Registration to the conference is open. The cost of the conference is $50 plus an additional $20 for professionals interested in acquiring the five CEUs available for attending. No one who wants to attend will be turned away. Please email NRCinstitute@thechicagoschool.edu or call (312) 410-8967 for more information.