MMAE’s mental health symposium examined the stigma attached to mental health disorders with a focus on recognition of mood disorders in various populations. Teaming up with AHEC to offer continuing education credits, MMAE brought to Charlotte a distinguished team of experts to discuss a very complicated topic.
Keynote speaker, Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., professor of Psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and mental health advocate drew attendees from Charlotte-Meckenburg and beyond. Redfield is the author of several books, her memoir about her own experiences with bipolar disorder, An Unquiet Mind, was on the The New York Times Bestseller list for more than 5 months.
Breakout sessions covered such varied topics as:
- "Adolescent Depression" conducted by Elizabeth Kastelic, MD. Dr. Kastelic is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has been involved in a program in the Baltimore schools that educates teenagers and counselors about depression in this age group.
- "Adolescent Depression" conducted by Elizabeth Kastelic, MD. Dr. Kastelic is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has been involved in a program in the Baltimore schools that educates teenagers and counselors about depression in this age group.
- "Cultural Differences in Mental Health Treatment and Attitudes" led by Annelle Primm, M.D. MPH - Director of Minority and National Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association; Associate Professor of Psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Primm also developed two videos, “Black and Blue,” is about depression in the African-American community; and "Gray and Blue" about depression in older people.
- "Mental Health in the Work Place" presented by Stephen E. Sammons, Med., LPC, PHR. Mr. Sammons is a management consultant with Corporate Health International.
In conjunction with the symposium, the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment brought in the very moving national photography exhibit, “Nothing to Hide-Mental Illness in the Family.” Also, copies of an award winning video, "Day Into Night - Recognizing Teenage Depression," were distributed to local organizations that council teens. “The Stigma Stops Here” was the focus of a one hour radio program.
- "Mental Health in the Work Place" presented by Stephen E. Sammons, Med., LPC, PHR. Mr. Sammons is a management consultant with Corporate Health International.
In conjunction with the symposium, the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment brought in the very moving national photography exhibit, “Nothing to Hide-Mental Illness in the Family.” Also, copies of an award winning video, "Day Into Night - Recognizing Teenage Depression," were distributed to local organizations that council teens. “The Stigma Stops Here” was the focus of a one hour radio program.
Learn More about "Nothing To Hide - Mental Illness In the Family," a national photography at the MMAE Mental Health Symposium
Watch the trailer for "Day For Night: Recognizing Teenage Depression" (5 min)