Mental health conference draws more than 700 to Wichita
The Recovery Conference is sponsored in part by the Kansas Consumer Advisory Council for Adult Mental Health Inc., in partnership with Wichita State University’s Center for Community Support & Research.
The conference theme is “A Vision of Hope†and focuses on mental health, including how individuals and organizations can educate others about mental health issues and develop caring relationships within their communities.
Workshop sessions are designed to educate and inspire mental health consumers and service partners as they gain the understanding that there is significant hope for recovery from mental illness and learn how individuals with mental illnesses are taking a leadership role in the improvement of services.
Some of the topics include Advocacy and Activism, Beyond Illness, Diversity and Cultural Competency, Stigma, Systems Transformation, and Talking about Trauma, which are all ongoing issues for individuals and communities across Kansas.
Held in Lawrence during its first two years, the Recovery Conference was moved to Wichita in 2002 because of growth and popularity. Today, this conference is recognized as the largest statewide recovery and empowerment conference for mental health consumers in the nation and continues to grow each year.
More than 720 registrations have been received. Although conference pre-registration and lodging is closed, walk-up registrations will be accepted on site at Century II Convention Hall beginning Tuesday, June 17.
The conference is free for mental health consumers and $35 for nonconsumers. Meals are included.
The event is also sponsored by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services; Disability and Behavioral Health Services; COMCARE of Sedgwick County; and the Kansas Chapter of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
For more information, contact Koleen Garrison at (610) 639-1258. Conference listings are posted on www.ccsr.wichita.edu.
# # # # #
Contact: Julie Underwood, (316) 978-3112 or julie.underwood@wichita.edu.