For the second year, McHenry County Mental Health Board will host a Virtual Recovery Conference Series with the McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force. The virtual program is titled, Fostering an Inclusive McHenry County and will feature a community awareness event and four (4) free sessions Thursday and Friday, September 9 and 10.
A community awareness event will be on Thursday evening at 6:00 pm with a virtual screening of “My Ascension”. The documentary film is raising awareness of mental health and suicide while spreading a message of hope and healing. A suicide attempt left 16-year old varsity cheerleader, Emma Benoit, paralyzed yet she fought to live and her experience propelled her on a mission to help others.
Friday begins with Keynote speaker, Pamela Rae Schuller who will present: Seriously Funny – Lessons for a more Inclusive Community. As a teen with Tourettes and a touch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder plus a lot of pent-up anger, Pamela spent years depressed, suicidal and wishing to be different. Over time, she turned her obstacles into the very fuel that drives her to be an internationally known disability and mental health advocate as well as a professional stand-up comedian.
Additional session topics to be held Friday include: Supporting our LGBTQ Students and Their Families: Best Practices for Creating an Inclusive School Environment by Dr. Shelley Fisher, a panel discussion on the Effects of Discrimination on the Mental Health of our Communities hosted by Lachell Jeffries-Hanson, MHP and Finding Your Voice, a storytelling workshop with Pamela Rae Schuller.
The public is invited to register and attend the virtual conference series as all sessions are free and Continuing Education Units are available as appropriate. Registration is required for attendance to this virtual conference. More information and registration can be found on the website at www.MC708.org.
Good health is a balance of physical and mental health. If you or someone you know needs support, visit www.MC708.org, download the Mental Health Resource Guide, and the MCHELP app. McHenry County Mental Health Board is here for you.