Breaking the Silence…
To Change Perceptions of Mental Illnesses
*Of special interest to educators, parents, service providers, employers,
and faith communities

Monday, April 13, 2009
3:00 - 5:00 PM

Safe Schools Institute
1790 NW Spanish River Blvd
Boca Raton, FL
(on campus of Don Estridge High Tech Middle School)

Featuring

1) Dr. Otto Wahl, author “Telling is Risky Business”
Professor of Psychology, University of Hartford

2) 4:15 - Preview of “More Than Sad: Teen Depression”
A new 20-minute film addressing teen fears and misconceptions, Introduced byLorie Simmons, Ex. Dir. of American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, SE FL

FREE Admission
Registration Requested: 561-955- 4810 or brpromis@gate.net

In Cooperation With:

Association for Community Counseling Schmidt Family Foundation, Boca Raton Community Hospital Palm Beach Community College, Boca Raton Center for Group Counseling, School District of Palm Beach County, Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County

Community Groups to Address Stigma and Teen Depression

Community groups will join Boca Raton’s Promise - The Alliance For Youth in presenting “Breaking the Silence”, a series of events encouraging dialogue and understanding of emotional and mental illnesses. The first event will be held Monday, April 13 from 3:00-5:00 PM, at the Safe Schools Institute in Boca Raton, 1790 Spanish River Blvd (on campus of Don Estridge Middle School). Featured speaker, Dr. Otto Wahl, author of “Telling is risky Business” and professor of psychology at the University of Hartford, will address the need to change perceptions of mental illnesses to encourage persons to seek early treatment.

The presentation will be followed by a panel being convened by Christine Stapleton, Palm Beach Post columnist for Kicking Depression. Participants will address community needs and ways they are being addressed – especially those being created by economic stressors which impact parents, children, businesses, schools and congregations of faith. This will be followed by a showing of the new film, “More Than Sad: Teen Depression” developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Topics will be of interest to parents, employers, educators, faith-communities, advocates, and high school students.

The recently published recommendations of the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force estimated that 6 percent of American teens are clinically depressed and recommended that adolescents (ages12-18) be screened by primary care providers when systems are in place to ensure accurate diagnoses, therapy and follow-up. “We want to make certain such systems and therapists are ready and in place in Boca Raton”, said Rita Thrasher, Executive Director of Boca Raton’s Promise. “We are proud to be presenting “Breaking the Silence” events with assistance from many community supporters including the Boca Raton Community Hospital, the Schmidt Family Foundation, the Association for Community Counseling, the Center for Group Counseling, Palm Beach Community College - Boca Raton, the Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County, and the School District of Palm Beach County.

The event is open to the public, free of charge. Reservations are requested by calling 561-955-4810. For information, 561-981-5330.

Contact: Rita Thrasher, Ex. Dir., Boca Raton’s Promise ….. 561-981-5330