Parents, educators of children and adolescents, and the public are encouraged to attend a Mental Health Awareness Expo to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Severna Park Middle School, 450 Jumpers Hole Road, Severna Park. The Expo is sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues and the Anne Arundel County Special Education Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
This event is planned to help parents, educators, and community members gain a better understanding of the issues faced by students with a mental health disorder and their families, including an overview of the resources, services and supports that are available to assist individuals in the school setting as well as in the home and community.
One in five children may experience a mental, emotional, or behavioral health problem before the age of 18, sponsors say. Some issues may include persistent sadness, hopelessness, anger, anxiety, changes in school performance, talk of suicide, changes in sleeping and eating habits, hearing voices that cannot be explained, or the need to perform the same routines repeatedly.
The event will have a light breakfast, welcome and introductions, a keynote speaker, time to visit exhibits, and breakout sessions. The topics are “Transitioning Youth”; “Education: Supporting Students with Emotional Disabilities”; “Co-occurring Disorders”; “Community Connections: Finding Your Village”; “Questions, Persuade, Refer: Suicide Prevention Training”; and “Navigating the System: You’ve Got a Diagnosis, Now What?”
In addition to the Commission, participants and exhibitors includes the Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ Infants and Toddlers/Preschool Services; Anne Arundel County Systems of Care/Partnership for Children, Youth and Families; Anne Arundel County Youth Suicide Awareness Action Team; Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities; Anne Arundel Community College Parenting Center; Arundel Psychological Associates; Millersville Psychological Services; On Our Own; Partners For Success; Brookes Publishing; National Institutes of Mental Health; and Kennedy Krieger Institute Behavioral Psychology Outpatient Program.
For information, visit www.aasecac.org or call the county’s Americans with Disabilities Act Office located at the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities at 410-222-4464, Ext. 3056.
