Ask the Doctor

Two more days until our 14th Annual Education Conference! The most challenging part of the conference is choosing which of the six afternoon workshops to attend. With the theme Young Adults and Mental Illness: Voice for Hope, each of the workshops will address a different issue affecting young adults, known as the Millennial Generation.

We've already reviewed the five other workshops: The Most Astounding Fact: A Writing Workshop for Recovery, Eating Disorders and Young Adults, Treatment in the Millennial Age, How Young Adults Can Afford the Affordable Care Act and Exploring Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation. Today we are highlighting our tried and true and always popular workshop Ask the Doctor.

Ask the Doctor

 

People often have many questions that can't be quickly answered in a short doctor's appointment. Do you have questions about: Medications and their side effects? The symptoms of different mental illnesses? Issues related to co-occurring disorders? How to make better lifestyle choices? During this workshop, Dr. Haskett will answer participants' wide variety of questions while discussing effective treatments and supports that promote recovery and healthier living.

 

Presenter: Roger Haskett, MD, is a Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Director of ECT Program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.


 

The Most Astounding Fact: A Writing Workshop for Recovery

Our 14th Annual Education Conference is only three days away! The most challenging part of the conference is choosing which of the six afternoon workshops to attend. With the theme Young Adults and Mental Illness: Voice for Hope, each of the workshops will address a different issue affecting young adults, known as the Millennial Generation.

We've reviewed four workshops: Eating Disorders and Young Adults, Treatment in the Millennial Age, How Young Adults Can Afford the Affordable Care Act and Exploring Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation. Today we are highlighting a creative writing workshop presented by one of our keynote speakers, Stacy Pershall.

The Most Astounding Facts: A Writing Workshop for Recovery

Inspired by the words of renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, this writing workshop will provide participants with helpful tools to feel less alone in their journey through recovery. Presenter Stacy Pershall will reveal the power of connections to others and the healing that comes from feeling like a relevant participant in the world. Writing exercises will focus on body acceptance, and each participant will leave with a memento created by all.

Presenter: Stacy Pershall is an accomplished author who lives with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and struggled with eating disorders for 20 years.

Eating Disorders and Young Adults

The most challenging part of our 14th Annual Education Conference on Saturday, April 12 is choosing which of the six workshops to attend in the afternoon. With the theme Young Adults and Mental Illness: Voice for Hope, each of the workshops will address a different issue affecting young adults, known as the Millennial Generation.

We've reviewed three workshops, Treatment in the Millennial Age, How Young Adults Can Afford the Affordable Care Act and Exploring Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation. Today we are highlighting a workshop that will address eating disorders among Millennials.

 

Eating Disorders and Young Adults: What You Need to Know

 

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that disproportionately affect adolescents and young adults, causing potentially devastating health consequences. This presentation will reivew the diagnostic criteria, onset and course for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Theories of causation including genetic, familial and personality factors, as well as cultural influences such as technology and media, will be discussed. Medical complications, the importance of medical monitoring and intervention will be explained. A review of empirically supported treatment interventions will be presented, with an emphasis on the family in treatment and recovery.

Presenter: Liz McCabe, PhD, Clinical Administrator for Eating Disorders and Behavioral Medicine, and Director of Social Work at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside.

Action Alert: Reject "Healthy PA" Waiver

Healthy PA is Gov. Corbett's private pay alternative to Medicaid expansion. His proposal has been submitted to the federal government, and the public has until April 11 at 6 a.m. to submit comments.

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania opposes Healthy PA for the following reasons, among others. Healthy PA would:

-Reduce existing Medicaid benefits and create High Risk Low Risk categories

-Tie work-related activities to Medicaid participation

-Charge premiums and impose penalty "lockout" periods of no coverage for missed payments

-End the MAWD (Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities) program

Medicaid expansion, on the other hand, will save both the state and federal governments money while extending healthcare coverage to millions of lower-income Pennsylvanians.

Please Take Action Today
We are asking you to send your comments to CMS (the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services).

What To Do
Go to this public comment website. Click "Answer the Questionnaire" and type of paste your comment in the box. Here is a comment you can use:

REJECT the Healthy PA Waiver Application. I support regular Medicaid Expansion.

Or, you can email 1115DemoRequests@cms.hhs.gov and send the message below. You can also refer to the bullet points above, if you choose.

 

REJECT the Health PA Waiver Application. I support regular Medicaid Expansion.

 

Exploring Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

The most challenging part of our 14th Annual Education Conference on Saturday, April 12 is choosing which of the six workshops to attend in the afternoon. With the theme Young Adults and Mental Illness: Voice for Hope, each of the workshops will address a different issue affecting young adults, known as the Millennial Generation.

We've reviewed two workshops, Treatment in the Millennial Age and How Young Adults Can Afford the Affordable Care Act. Today we are highlighting a workshop that will address gender and sexuality among young adults.

Exploring Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

The Millennial Generation is seeking to honestly and openly explore gender norms and traditions. What does it mean for young people to identify their sense of gender as different from their assigned gender? How do those with an LGBTQ orientation gain acceptance in a society where heterosexuality is the cultural normative? Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) is NOT a mental illness. However, LGBTQ people often face societal stigma and resulting prejudice and discrimination. For some individuals, this can impact wellness and exacerbate other signs and symptoms that might lead to depression, substance use and anxiety. This workshop is designed to give participants a basic understanding of sexual orientation and gender differences in today's young adults and how these traits might impact mental health.

Presenter: Sarah M. Rosso, Director of Public Education at Mental Health America of Allegheny County, and Trainer at Persad Center, Inc.