What I Learned at the National Conference on Mental Health 2013

The National Conference on Mental Health convened by President Obama on Monday was a historic day — not to start a national conversation about mental health, but rather to elevate it. “So many of you have spent decades waging long and lonely battles to be heard,” said the President, in his opening remarks. “Instead, it’s about elevating that conversation to a national level and bringing mental illness out of the shadows.” Indeed. And while I’m preaching to the choir of voices who read this blog regularly, maybe through your social shares and Likes on Facebook, we can reach a few new people who might not know the secret of mental health — we all have it. And just like our physical health, it can sometimes go kablooey. The day started out with a modest standing reception in the Entrance Hall of the White House. Over 150 people gathered together and mingled. Among many others, I met two great women from ReachOut.com, an innovative website targeted toward young adults and teens with mental health issues. Started in Australia back in 1998, Jack Heath took what worked in Australia over to the US in the mid-2000s. It’s a great website and resource for teens and young adults, and is worth checking out. After coffee, juice and danish, we were ushered into the majestic East Room of the White House for Opening Remarks by President Obama (the transcript and video are here). It was an eloquent speech by the President, reaffirming the ne...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: General Mental Health and Wellness Policy and Advocacy Psychiatry Psychology Treatment Active Minds American Psychological Association Association Of Broadcasters blog Dahlen Decades Eloquent Speech Entrance Hall Facebook Gle Source Type: blogs