Mental Illness Awareness Day 2012

John Mitty Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Former Basketball Star/Author/Advocate Chamique Holdsclaw, Long Island Health/Mental Health Town Meeting Highlight

20^th Mental Illness Awareness Day Conference

An unparalleled Queens, NY high school legacy, an Olympic Gold medal, three NCAA Championships, and a highly successful professional basketball career could not mask the private demons, bouts of depression, and Chamique Holdsclaw’s eventual suicide attempt. Fortunately, it was that ultimate, terrible low point in her life that empowered her to help others find the strength and courage to face the ugly stigma of mental illness. Ms. Holdsclaw will discuss her experiences with serious depression, which she shared in her recent book, “Breaking Through: Beating the Odds Shot After Shot”, when she serves as Keynote Speaker at the 20^th Annual Mental Illness Awareness Day on Thursday, October 4^th at the Huntington Hilton in Melville, NY.

This year’s event is hosted by three collaborating agencies Clubhouse of Suffolk, Suffolk County United Veterans, and the Mental Health Association in Suffolk.

In addition to Ms. Holdsclaw’s appearance, the Day will be a venue for a Long Island Health/Mental Health Town Meeting where leaders of the Island’s leading health entities will address the challenge of “Building Healthy Communities” through the new structures of New York State and National health reforms. The Town Meeting will be facilitated by Gwen O’Shea, CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island and will be led off by remarks from Dennis Romero, Regional Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Day will also include workshops on cutting edge topics including “The Brain: The Final Frontier for Scientific Research” featuring work being done at Brookhaven National Labs, “Post Combat Stress:  Perspectives from a War Veteran and a Clinician,” “Mental Health First Aid,” and “Achieving Happy Relationships While in Recovery”.  In addition, the Day includes a Behavioral Health Trade Show and an art exhibit featuring the works of local artists in recovery. 

For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Stoltz (631) 471-7242 X1304 or michael.stoltz@clubhouseofsuffolk.org

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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