DHH Conducts Outreach during Mental Health
Awareness Month
Statewide Events Planned for Month of May

Thursday, May 5, 2011  |  Contact: Lisa R. Faust; (225) 342-7913 or (225) 252-3579 (cell)

BATON ROUGE - Throughout the month of May, the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) will recognize Mental Health Awareness Month through various statewide events aimed at raising awareness about child, adolescent and adult mental health.

"Mental Health Awareness month is a great opportunity for our staff to communicate with local communities and schools around the state, said Pete Calamari, interim assistant secretary for OBH. "Our goal is to help as many people as we can to learn about mental health and substance abuse issues and ways to get help, if needed, for themselves, family members or friends."

DHH is teaming up with the Louisiana Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (LFFCMH) and local and regional community stakeholders to sponsor Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, which began May 2.  Regional OBH staff will also promote mental health awareness for statewide clients through a number of activities, including reading stories, distributing awareness ribbons and showing informative videos in their offices. In addition, regional staff will participate in events at schools and with community groups across the state to bring awareness to children's mental health.

The fourth annual Children's Mental Health Awareness Summit will be held on May 26 at the School of the Energy, Coast and Environment at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. The summit is dedicated to raising awareness, education and advocacy for children's mental health and will feature experts outlining aspects of the Coordinated System of Care (CSoC). CSoC is an evidence-based approach that combines the services of all four child-serving state agencies - the Office of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Department of Education - to better serve the state's youth who have significant behavioral health needs. This is part of a national movement that focuses on family-driven and youth-guided care to avoid institutionalization and keep children at home, in school, and out of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

DHH, along with LFFCMH and other partner agencies, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America of Louisiana (MHAL), will hold the Orange and Green Day Rally for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Awareness May 12 on the steps of the State Capitol.

For a complete list of OBH-sponsored events, visit the DHH behavioral health website at www.obh.dhh.la.gov. 

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's blog, Twitter account and Facebook.

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Scheduled Events

Friday, May 6, 2011

ECSS-Acadiana ECSS Acadiana clients and network partners are invited to attend Go Green for Children's Mental Health Day at the ECSS Acadiana office.

Date: Friday, May 6, 2011
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Place:  420 E Bridge St.
            St. Martinville, LA 70582
Contact: ECSS St. Martinville Office, (337) 394-5258

ECSS-Ouachita and Region VII- will participate in Mental Health Day activities at Forsythe Park in Monroe. Participants are asked to wear orange in support of mental health awareness, and ECSS and Region VII staff will be on hand to provide information to parents and school-aged children about adult and children's mental health. This event is free and open to the public.

Date: Friday, May 6, 2011
Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Place: Forsythe Park
           2401 Sycamore Street
           Monroe, LA
Contact: ECSS West Monroe Office, (318) 362-4676

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

ECSS-St. Tammany- ECSS Infant & Early Childhood Clinician InGyu Jang, LCSW-BACS will provide an informational session at the Slidell-Pearl River Head Start Center about the Early Childhood Supports & Services Program. Jang will also facilitate a parenting workshop on the topic of Maternal Substance Abuse and Parenting of Young Children for parents and caregivers of children enrolled at Slidell-Pearl River Head Start Center.

Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Place: Slidell-Pearl River Head Start Center
           63631 Highway 11
           Pearl River, LA
Contact: ECSS Mandeville Office, (985) 624-4140

 Thursday, May 12, 2011

Mental Health of America (MHAL) and LAFFCMH in partnership with the Louisiana Behavioral Coalition are sponsoring the second Orange and Green Day at the Capitol. Time of this event is 8:30 a.m.  - noon on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol.

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2011
Time: 8:30am - noon
Place: State Capitol
           Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Contact: Mental Health America, (225) 356-3701 or LAFFCMH, (225) 293-3508

Region VII- Northwest Louisiana Suicide Prevention Coalition will be holding its Fifth Annual Suicide Prevention Conference May 12 - 13, 2011. The pre-conference training on Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is will be held May 10 - 11, 2011. The pre-conference and conference will be held at LSU-Shreveport. For registration information, contact the OBH Region VII Office at (318) 676-5111.

Date(s): May 12-13, 2011
Place:  LSU Shreveport - University Center
            8501 Youree Drive
            Shreveport, LA
Contact: OBH Region VII Office, (318) 676-5111

Region VIII- Office of Mental Health-Children Services Division is hosting an Orange and Green Day at Forsythe Park in Monroe. This will be open to the public to help raise awareness for children's mental health issues. Region VIII staff will provide information regarding services offered within the clinics and brochures of various OBH programs and community resources.

Date:  Thursday, May 12, 2011
Place: Forsythe Park
           2401 Sycamore St.
           Monroe, LA
Contact: ECSS West Monroe Office, (318) 362-4676

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority (SCLHSA) is partnering with the Houma-Thibodaux Regional Advisory Council (RAC) to host a seminar titled "Aiming for Success" at the Nicholls State University Ballroom from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The workshop will provide information on mental health awareness, recovery and many other topics. Lunch will be provided, and door prizes will be offered. Registration is free. For registration information, contact South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority at (985) 858-2931.

Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Place: Nicholls State University Ballroom (in the Student Union)
           901 East First Street
           Thibodaux, LA
Contact: SCLHSA at (985) 858-2931

 Thursday, May 26, 2011

Office of Behavioral Health is holding the fourth annual Children's Mental Health Awareness Conference. Pre-registration is required. Conference will be held at the LSU School of the Energy, Coast and Environment. Parents, caregivers and mental health professionals are invited. For registration information, contact Shirley Marrero, OBH Children's Services at (225) 342-2579.

 Date: Thursday, May 26, 2011
Time: 8:30a.m. - 4 p.m.
Place:  LSU School of the Energy, Coast and Environment
            Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Contact: Shirley Marrero, OBH Central Office, (225) 342-2579

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citiznes. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's blog, Twitter account and Facebook.