Ohio University Southern to host Community Mental Health Awareness Conference on Oct. 4

The Appalachian region has higher rates of mental health issues than the rest of the United States, with the suicide rate being 17% higher than the national rate. In a region where mental health challenges can often go unnoticed, Ohio University Southern is taking action.

On Oct. 4, the second Community Mental Health Awareness Conference will bring together experts, educators and community members to confront these issues head on. 

This event, aimed at raising awareness and providing valuable insights into mental health, is open to the public, with a registration fee of $35. For Ohio University students, course credit is available.

The conference will feature an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Rita, The Farmer’s Daughter Who Travels the World. A motivational speaker, educator, and mental health well-being researcher, Dr. Rita’s unique life story offers a message of hope and resilience. Raised in a farming village where many live to be nearly a century old, Dr. Rita has traveled the globe with just two suitcases, gaining invaluable insights that shape her research and talks on mental health. With a doctorate in education and a master's of communication, she brings a wealth of knowledge on mental health well-being, leadership and the impact of a positive mindset.

In addition to the keynote, the conference will offer breakout sessions led by experienced professionals in the mental health field, providing practical tools and resources for attendees. Highlights include:

• Be SMART Secure Firearm Storage, presented by Lora Greene
• Suicide Prevention Training, by the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center
• Solution Focused Therapy in Schools: Practical Approaches for Positive Outcomes, by Stephanie Craft
• Let’s Talk: Healthy Relationships, presented by Megan Rookard
• Who I Am for Now, by Ohio University Southern graduate and local musician Alan "Corduroy" Brown
• The Power of Words: How to Help LGBTQ+ Youth, by Stephanie Craft and Dr. Austin Raines

These sessions will cover a wide range of topics including suicide prevention, healthy relationships, solution-focused therapy and supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable strategies for improving mental well-being within their communities and personal lives.

Robert Pleasant, director of student services at Ohio University Southern, emphasized the importance of this event: "Our goal is to create a positive environment where attendees can gain knowledge about mental health, understand the challenges people face, and learn how to foster better mental well-being in their own lives and the lives of others."

In addition to breakout sessions, the Clothesline Project will be on display in Ohio University Southern’s Art Gallery during the conference. The Clothesline Project is a worldwide initiative in which those affected by violence design a t-shirt sharing their experiences. The shirts are then hung along a clothesline to be viewed by others as a witness to the problem of violence and remember those who have lost their lives to it.

This event is a crucial opportunity for community members, mental health professionals, students and educators to gather and share ideas, resources and support in the ongoing effort to promote mental health awareness in the tri-state area.