Hearing Voices, Keeping Silent: the Patron with Mental Illness

Date & Time Tuesday, May 01, 2001 9:30 AM-12:30 PM Location Cuyahoga County Public Library Fairview Park Regional 21255 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, Ohio Registration $35 CAMLS Members $45 Affiliate libraries $117 Non-members Fee includes coffee and materials Deadline: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 Limit: 35

People who have a mental illness may display behaviors that are misunderstood and misinterpreted by others. A lack of knowledge and media misrepresentation have created major stigma for people with mental illness. Everyone knows it is there: In the community, in the library, and even in our families. In this half-day interactive, multimedia workshop, you will have an opportunity to learn about the different types of mental illness, potentially related behaviors, and why some people with mental illness may be attracted to the library where you work. Stigmas that our society has about persons with mental illness will be explored along with the negative impacts they create. New knowledge can lead to new understanding and new responses to the library patron who has a mental illness.   Intended Audience All staff who have contact with the general public.   Benefit to Participants Discover why some patrons “act differently” Gain understanding of major types of mental illness Explore stigmas and their disabling impacts Learn how to respond positively to this consumer Course Content Overview of major mental illnesses Exploration of related behaviors and what they mean Discussion of stigma and the negative impact to individuals, families, and community Discuss media misrepresentations of mental illness, including unpredictability Presenter Ray Gonzalez, ACSW, LISW, and Carol Falender, LISW, are the Executive Director and Associate Director, respectively, of PLAN of Northeast Ohio, Inc. They will present this workshop along with members of the Promoting Recovery by Confronting Stigma Action Team. PLAN is a nonprofit organization that provides individualized home based social work services, advocacy, volunteering opportunities, and social recreational activities to people with mental illness and to their families.