Cerritos College to host mental health symposium

The symposium educates students and public on mental health and wellness

Event Contact: Christian Maldonado, Psychology; (213) 447-5592

WHAT: In partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), Cerritos College will be hosting Mental Health Awareness symposium.

Entitled Mental Health Awareness: Building Bridges Through Education, the symposium provide mental health and wellness resources and information. The keynote speaker will be Mark Ragins, M.D., Mental Health America (MHA) Village's founding psychiatrist and medical director, who will deliver the keynote presentation on mental health, wellness, recovery and stigma. Other presenters include Doralee Bridges and Cathy Williamson, the Department of Mental Health; Dave Leon, The Painted Brain; and students from the Active Minds Club at Cerritos College.

Offered free to all attendees, other symposium highlights include: student panel sharing their journeys of recovery; choice of breakout sessions addressing depression, anxiety, stress management, mental fitness and art therapy; and mental health, wellness and recovery resources from community and county agencies. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to participants who pre-register.

"Depression and suicides among teens are increasing at an alarming rate. It's important for students to learn that mental health, recovery and wellness is a key component of their general health," explained Christian Maldonado, M.S.W., Mental Health America Career Development Specialist and an instructor in Cerritos College's Mental Health Worker program.

"We hope that as students become more informed about mental illness and available resources in the community, they will be more comfortable to ask questions, talk openly about what they're going through and seek the help that they need," he said.

This event is funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).

WHEN: Friday, April 20, 2012
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Cerritos College
Teleconference Center (LC 155)
11110 Alondra Blvd
Norwalk, CA 90650

COST: This event is FREE and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to participants who pre-register. Pre-registration form is available. The completed form can be e-mailed or faxed to Heidi Techasith (htechasith@dmh.lacounty.gov) Fax: (213) 252-8776 (do not include cover letter)
Contact: For more information, contact Christian Maldonado at cmaldonado@mhala.org, (213)-447-5592 or Maurnie Edwards at medwards@dmh.lacounty.gov, (213) 251-6861.

About LACDMH Community College Partnering Project (CCPP)
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health at the request of the mental health client coalitions developed the CCPP to produce events that inform community college students and its surrounding community members about programs and services funded by California's Mental Health Services Act. LACDMH works to address stigma and discrimination against people with mental health disabilities through education and highlighting stories of those living in recovery.

About Active Minds
Active Minds is a national student-run organization that gives student voice to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses. MHA helped start and continues to advise the chapter at Cerritos College. The organization works to increase students' awareness of mental health issues through education, encourages students to seek help as soon as it is needed, and serves as liaison between students and the mental health community.

About Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHA)
Founded in 1924, Mental Health America of Los Angeles is a nonprofit mental health organization that ensures all people with mental illness assume their full and rightful place in the community through its work in service, education, advocacy, and training. MHA's Workforce Development creates a pipeline toward entry-level mental health careers by partnering with Cerritos College to offer its Mental Health Worker Certificate program. Serving Los Angeles County, it operates MHA Village in Long Beach, an integrated services agency that has been recognized nationally for its recovery-based model.