Seminar offers peace of mind
One quarter of all Americans
met the criteria for having a mental illness within the past year.
A quarter of those had a “serious” disorder that significantly
disrupted their ability to function on aday-to-day basis, according to
an article in the June 6 edition of The Washington Post.
Karen Esajian, founder of Up Date on Health, said she believes Weis’
report is accurate and feels a large portion of that statistic is made
up of college students. Esajian began Up Date on Health in order to increase
health awareness based on her own personal experiences.
Esajian grew up with a bipolar disorder. When she was younger the disease
was misdiagnosed as symptoms of PMS and she was put on drugs to control
her hormones. Years of living with the disease in addition to the hormone
medication and stress from her mother’s deterioration from Alzheimer’s
disease, put Esajian in a deep depression that was hard for her to overcome.
Now in her 60s, Esajian feels she’s finally in control of the disorder.
“In our society it is more acceptable to drink or do drugs than
it is to have a mental disorder,” Esajian said. “I want to
educate people, especially college students and break that stigma.”
Esajian paired up with Fresno State physical therapy graduate student
Rachel Worman to organize The Valley Mental Health Seminar. In the past,
the event had been held in the Tower District, but this year Esajian wanted
the event to be held on Fresno State’s campus to encourage students
to attend.
“Because college students are still at an age where they feel judged
by their peers and have the added stress of term papers and tests and
some have to balance that with a part-time job, students tend to hide
or ignore mental health issues,” Esajian said. “I want to
educate them and help them understand and deal with whatever it is they
might be going through.”
The seminar will feature six speakers from varying emphasises in the mental
health field, including a director from the Depression Research Clinic,
a mental health medical director and a mental health psychiatrist. The
goal of the seminar is to educate the community, students and health professionals
on mental health topics such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety,
stress and more.
Leann Gouveia, executive director of Fresno Survivors of Suicide Loss,
Inc. said, “As many people die each year from committing suicide
as would if a large jetliner filled with people crashed every other day.”
Depression is one of many mental disorders plaguing thousands of people
nationwide.
The seminar will be held from 7:50 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Nov.
4, in the Satellite Student Union.
Registration begins at 7:15
a.m. and continues through 7:50 a.m. and cost for students and the general
public is $25. Lunch will be provided.
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