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The Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center
(ATCMHMR) is promoting May as Mental Health Month with a number
of activities in collaboration with local organizations and media
to educate the public and expand awareness about the issues surrounding
mental illness including diagnoses, treatment, and combating stigma.
The activities kick off with two exciting events with the Austin
Wranglers Arena Football League team. The Wranglers have provided
over 500 tickets for ATCMHMR consumers and their families to attend
a home football game at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 4 at the Erwin
Center. KXAN News Anchor Michelle Valles will emcee a halftime presentation
on mental illness and ATCMHMR. The second event invites football
fans to “Meet the Wranglers” at a donations drive benefiting
the ATCMHMR New Beginnings Pantry. Attendees are asked to bring
cleaning supplies and gently used household items to the drive,
which will be held from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM on Monday, May
19 at 403 E. 15th Street (southeast side of Waterloo Park).
For the second consecutive year, KEYE-TV will host a two-hour call
in program, Ask the Experts, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday,
May 15. Eight licensed practitioners from ATCMHMR will take and
answer questions about mental health concerns, particularly depression.
Last year, nearly 80 people called-in and spoke to one of our experts.
Eric Blumberg, ATCMHMR Consumer Liaison, will moderate.
To commemorate Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, many
community partners and organizations will host the conference Hope
for the Future: Action Agenda for Child & Youth Mental Health
on Friday, May 9 from 7:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at St. Edwards
University’s Ragsdale Center. The conference will bring together
key decision makers, leaders, and other interested individuals to
discuss concerns about child and youth mental health issues in Austin
and Travis County. Dr. Kimberly Hoagwood, Director of the Center
on Implementation and Research on Evidence-Based Practices for Children
and Families at Columbia University, will give the keynote address
and be available for media interviews.
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