Two NEW Webinars: Do You Know The Signs? Addictions, Mental Health + the Faith Community Response

Spring is almost here, and as the old adage goes, "April showers bring May flowers." Spring is a time of renewed hope and celebration, especially within our various faith communities. Did you know that April and May are also key months for bringing awareness to several national, health-related concerns, including addiction and mental health?

That's why the Partnership Center will be launching a new educational webinar series, starting Wednesday, April 10, which focuses on mental health: the signs, symptoms, and strategies for care. As always, our webinars are open to the public; however, the first two are particularly geared to inform faith and community leaders who serve on the frontlines of public assistance and care.

This newsletter includes details about the first two events. Please share these opportunities with your community. Consider watching it as a group and then offering a post-webinar discussion. 

Is there a specific mental health concern you wish to know more about? We'd love to hear from you!

If you have any questions about any of our resources, work, or how we can assist you, please contact us at Partnerships@HHS.gov.

Mental Illness 101: A Practical Primer Series for Faith Communities

With one in five people experiencing some form of mental illness each year, it comes as no surprise that faith communities are contending with this reality in their congregations and neighborhoods. The HHS Partnership Center is hosting a timely series of webinars aimed at educating, equipping, and engaging communities on this often unspoken epidemic.

Goals of this series are to:

• help faith and community-based groups and their leaders understand commonly diagnosed mental illnesses;
• recognize signs and symptoms prevalent in adults, teens, and children; and
• guide individuals toward recommended levels of care for these conditions.

Through increased awareness and appropriate care, mental health myths can be dispelled, and individuals, families, and ultimately communities, can thrive! 

NOTE: Please feel free to use any of the images in this newsletter to help promote the webinars to your audiences. You can also cross promote our Twitter and Facebook posts on the events. Please contact us at Partnerships@HHS.Gov for further assistance.

Mental Illness 101: What Are Co-Occurring Disorders? People experiencing a mental health condition often struggle with co-occurring disorders, such as a Opioid use disorder (OUD). The inaugural webinar in our Mental Illness 101 series will pay special attention to the current opioid crisis and how the misuse of highly addictive substances could be masking mental health concerns. Using the most up-to-date research, Dr. David E. Jenkins will identify for us specific signs and symptoms when someone might have a co-occurring disorder, and how everyday leaders can refer such individuals to the appropriate level of care. Learn More About Our Distinguished Presenter: David E. Jenkins, Psy.D., Professor, Director of M.A. in Addiction Counseling, Dept. of Counselor Education & Family Studies,School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University REGISTER: APRIL 10 WEBINAR>>

Mental Illness 101: Anxiety Disorders Did you know anxiety disorders are more than just temporary worries or fears? It’s true. And for someone struggling with this type of disorder, the anxiety does not just go away.  In fact, symptoms can worsen over time and interfere with daily activities, including job performance, school work, and relationships. Through this webinar, faith and community leaders will learn how to recognize the signs and types of anxiety ― including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and various phobia-related disorders ― and then guide individuals to the proper level of care. Learn More About Our Distinguished Presenter: Timothy A. Sisemore, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Summit Counseling Center

REGISTER: MAY 9 WEBINAR>>