Behind the Mental Health Matters Symposium which was April 18-20,2024:
Rotary International has launched an initiative to improve mental health care. The organization is asking clubs to expand on their culture of care by raising awareness of mental health needs, erasing the stigma associated with emotional well-being, and improving access to quality preventive care and interventions. Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach President 2023-24 Justin Lefebure asked the Health and Wellness committee chair, Linda Scott, if her committee could focus on mental health issues in IRC and create a project that could educate the public on the effects of mental illness. Linda and her committee accepted the challenge and got to work. Rotary Community Corp member, Kathy Lindsey, Program Coordinator of the Mental Health Collaborative, and a member of the Health and Wellness Committee gathered several professionals of the local mental health community and the committee began to formulate a plan to host a Mental Health Matters Symposium in April. Shotsi LaJoie, a psychological educator and consulting coach as well as a practicing psychotherapist, was invited to join the committee. Shotsi’s childhood friend, Meg Kissinger, author of “While You Were Out” a memoir of a family besieged by mental illness, as well as an incisive exploration of the systems that failed them, invited Meg to participate in the symposium as the keynote speaker and to attend a book signing at the Center for Spiritual Care. Meg graciously accepted the invitation and was excited to be a part of this important educational forum. The Mental Health Matters Symposium was recently held at the Emerson Center which is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church with approximately 70 people in attendance and 15 mental health organizations providing information and materials on the services they provide to the IRC community. A Mental Health First Aid class was offered as well at which 20 participants learned helpful methods in assisting people dealing with mental health concerns. The partnership with Sunrise and Mental Health Collaborative is a worthwhile endeavor and all are proud to have been a part of this and look forward to it becoming an annual event.
