Video: Access to Services & Support

Fighting Stigma: Access to Services and Support

Speakers will discuss the available resources and services available to the community and how individuals can help their loved ones access these resources.

Moderator: Amnon Shoenfeld, director, King County Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division

Panelists:

• Dr. Delaney Ruston, Seattle filmmaker
• Yoon Joo Han, Behavioral Health Services director at ACRS (Asian Counseling and Referral Service)
• Corinne Wegener, Clinical Development-Outreach Manager at Consejo Counseling and Referral Service

Video: Mental Health and the Community

Fighting Stigma: Mental Health and the Community

With challenging mental health issues so prevalent in our community, in the legal system, among the homeless and at home, we all have a personal stake in community mental health. This panel will address these issues, along with the dynamic challenges of community misperception, developments in public safety, voluntary commitment laws, and more.

Moderator: King County Superior Court, Judge Harry McCarthy

Panelists:

• Dan Satterberg, King County Prosecuting Attorney
• Craig Rennebohm, Seattle Mental Health chaplain
• Helen Nilon, executive director of Mental Health Action
• Declan Wynne, director, Sound Mental Health Integrated Services

Video: Congressman McDermott's keynote address

Fighting Stigma: Keynote Address

Video: Local advocates

Fighting Stigma: Panel 3

Local advocates share their stories and discuss their efforts to help others by speaking out and working to improve the mental health treatment system.

• Randy Revelle, SVP Policy and Advocacy, Washington State Hospital Association
• Martha Monfried, director of PSE Corporate Communications and board member NAMI Washington and Eastside
• Patrick Ciminera, Sound Mental Health peer specialist

For full text of Randy Revelle's remarks, please click here.

Video: Washington's community mental health system

Fighting Stigma: Panel 2

State and local officials discuss what the local and Washington state mental health system looks like now and their vision for the future.

• Susan Dreyfus, secretary of DSHS
• Sue Rahr, King County sheriff
• Richard Veith, M.D. chair of UW Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
• Craig Rennebohm, Mental Health chaplain

Video: National anti-stigma and recovery campaigns

Fighting Stigma: Panel 1

Actress Glenn Close’s sister, Jessie Close, discusses her partnership with Seattle area advocates on the national anti-stigma BringChange2Mind campaign, launched after Glenn took action to support Jessie and her son, both who experience mental health issues. Puget Sound based advocates also discussed their other local and national anti-stigma efforts.

• Jessie Close, BringChange2Mind

• Linea and Cinda Johnson, Mental health advocates and speakers

• Delaney Ruston, Seattle M.D. and filmmaker of Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia

Photos from the symposium

A few images from the evening - the full set of photos can be found by clicking here.

Guests mingle at the pre-event reception in Kane Hall.

Susan Dreyfus (Secretary, DSHS), Sheriff Sue Rahr, Craig Rennenbohm (Seattle Mental Health Chaplain) and Dr. Richard Veith (Chair, UW Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences) speak about Washington State's community mental health system. Check out these posts from the live blog for a recap of their talking points.

• Healthcare reform
• Mental health and the criminal justice system
• Need for sound policy
• Care delivery
• How do you counsel the mentally ill?
• On the coming budget cuts
• Community-based care

Dr. Delaney Ruston (filmmaker), Jessie Close (BringChange2Mind), Cinda Johnson and Linea Johnson (mental health advocates) share their stories and discuss the national and local efforts to combat the stigma around mental illness.

Patrick Ciminera (Peer Specialist at Sound Mental Health), Martha Monfried (Puget Sound Energy and NAMI Washington & Eastside board member) and Randy Revelle (Washington State Hospital Association) shared their stories and discussed their efforts to help others by speaking out. Related posts:

• Fear, ignorance and shame
• Caring for family members
• Overcoming violence
• In the public eye
• Problems with lithium
• The value of peer counseling
• Avoiding insurance discrimination

The "Fighting Stigma, Finding Solutions" symposium planning committee!

Rick Wales, Chairman of the Thomas C. Wales Foundation greets Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) on day 2 of the symposium.