VA Sets Mental Health Summit

Written by Vets National Advocates on August 18, 2014. Posted in Uncategorized

DANVILLE Representatives of community agencies, veterans and others will gather Tuesday for the second annual Community Mental Health Summit, hosted by the Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System.

The invitation-only event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Bremer Center auditorium at Danville Area Community College, 2000 E. Main St.

The summit will involve VA staff, veterans and mental health agencies in central Illinois and west central Indiana.

The purpose of the summit is to bring together key stakeholders in the community with the goal of enhancing access to mental health services and addressing the mental health care needs of veterans and their family members.

The summit will provide opportunities for active engagement and collaboration among VA staff, community agencies, veterans and others.

Sheryl Grubb, acting public affairs officer at the VA, said the groups will discuss what can be done better to meet the mental health needs of veterans, and how to bridge the gaps in service.

Last years event was helpful and agencies found ways to collaborate with each other, she said.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. with registration and informational tables, followed at 9 a.m. by the welcome given by Dr. Michael Clayton, chief, Mental Health Service.

Other remarks include: 9:05 a.m., Nirmala Rozario, chief of staff, and 9:10 a.m., Thomas Mills, VA chaplain, on military culture.

At 10 a.m., Andrew Gruman, mental health administrative officer, will give a demonstration of the National Resource Directory.

The following breakout sessions will begin at 11 a.m.:

• Discussion Group 1: Focusing on Veterans Families with facilitators Stephanie Ericksen, Ph.D., and Natalie Liggett, LCSW.
• Discussion Group 2: Employment and Veteran Well-Being with facilitators Rachael Dietkus-Miller, LCSW, and Tim Jobin, LCSW.
• Discussion Group 3: Meeting the Medical and Mental Health Needs of Aging Veterans with facilitators Stephanie Holt, Ph.D., and Bridget Tribout, Ph.D.

At 12:30 p.m., there will be reports on opportunities identified during breakout sessions. Closing remarks will follow at 1 p.m.

Tags: Veterans News