Mental Health America of SC September 2011 News!!!

The Messenger

MHASC Bringing Wellness Home

First Edition, Volume 1

SEPTEMBER 2011

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Every year, more than 34,000 people in the United States die by suicide. Every day, 90 Americans take their own lives. Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 65.

There is a way that you can show your support for suicide prevention and to join in support for those families and friends who have lost someone to suicide.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention sponsors Out of the Darkness Community Walks each fall across the nation.

Sign up today to join Mental Health America of South Carolina's own team for the Columbia, SC Out of the Darkness Walk.

The walk will be held at Riverfront Park in Columbia, SC on Sunday, October 17, 2011 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

To join the MHASC team, call our office at 803-779-5363.

To learn more about the walks and how you can become involved in suicide prevention and survivor support visit the AFSP website at www.afsp.org.

Postpartum Depression and The Family Conference

The Midlands Postpartum Coalition, NAMI Mid- Carolina, Dorn VA Hospital, and Mental Health America of South Carolina are hosting the 3rd annual conference on Postpartum Depression and the Family.

Postpartum Depression and the Family

Friday, October 7, 2011

Registration 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

Conference 9:00 am - 2:30 pm

Dorn VA Medical Center

6439 Garner's Ferry Rd.

Columbia, SC 29209

There will be three dynamic speakers for this event.

James F. Paulson, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Old Dominion University. He is the author of over 30 publications on prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers.

Stephanie Berg, MD is the Medical Director of The Women's Emotional Health Center at Midlands Psychiatry in Columbia, SC and a psychiatrist at Palmetto Health Behavioral Day Program. She has a particular interest in mood disorders in pregnancy and postpartum, premenstual mood disorders and perimenopausal mood disorders.

Dr. Judy McKay is a Child and Adolescent psychiatrist specializing in treating children ages 4 - 18 at the Pisgah Institute in Asheville, NC. Before moving to Asheville she ran a "Peripartum Mood Disorder Clinic" in the Department of Neuropsychiatry at the University of South Carolina.

The cost is $55.00. Registration must be received by September 30, 2011. A boxed lunch is included with the registration fee.

To register online go to the Mental Health America of SC website home page www.mha-sc.org and click on the blue icon in the top right hand corner of the webpage to access a registration form that you can print and mail in to the address below with payment.

Or- complete the following form and mail in to:

Mental Health America of South Carolina

1823 Gadsden St.

Columbia, SC 29201

Name _________________________________________________

Business/Organization ___________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

Email _________________________________________________

Phone ________________________________________________

Contact Hours are currently pending through Mid Carolina AHEC

Make checks payable to:

Mental Health America of South Carolina

Please print on check subject line: "Postpartum Depression Conference"

To pay with credit card visit the Mental Health America of South Carolina's website www.mha-sc.org home page and click on DONATE. Then follow the instructions to make a payment through PayPal.

If you have any questions about the conference or conference registration, please call Anita T. Baker at 803-779-5363 or email atbaker@mha-sc.org.