Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation to host 3rd annual Who Is Jay? Mental Health Symposium

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Daytona Beach, FL – The Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation (the Foundation) is pleased to announce its 3rd Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium to be held at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on Friday, May 18, 2018 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The symposium, titled High Impact: Exploring the Impact of Mental Illness on our Communities and the Positive Impact Individuals Can Have on the Issues, is open to the community, and media is welcome.  Held in May as part of National Mental Health Month activities, the symposium is designed to bring awareness, education, and inspiration.

The keynote speaker is Mike Veny, one of America’s leading mental health speakers, and 2017 PM360’s ELITE Award winner for his work with Transforming Stigma and Health Central. Mike’s perspectives have been featured on ABC, NBC, and CBS news.  He is a regular guest on The Fresh outlook TV news show, a writer for Corporate Wellness Magazine and HealthCentral.com.  Mental Illness is An Asset, his compelling TEDx talk, has been used in college classrooms and gotten sensational reviews.  Mike is fiercely committed to wellness, suicide prevention, and addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Presentations throughout the day will include the following:

  • State of the State: Behavioral Health in Florida – presented by Mark Fontaine, Executive Director of FADAA (Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association)
  • PTSD in our Veterans – Presented by Dean Ehly, LCSW with the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration, and introducing K9Line, Inc.
  • The Critical Connection: Depression and the Opioid Crisis – Presented by Dr. James L. Fenley, Jr., Director of Addiction Services at SMA Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
  • Sources of Strength (Suicide Prevention Model) – presented by Parrish Healthcare
  • Mental Health in Diverse Communities – Panel Discussion with Chester Wilson, Ed.D. with SMA Behavioral Health Services, Inc.; Jesus Castro, Psy.D., Psychologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Elena M. Naranjo, LMHC with SunServe
  • Because I Said I Would – presented by Amanda Messer, Co-Founder of the social movement and non-profit organization Because I Said I Would

“We are excited to bring such high caliber speakers from around the US and the State of Florida to our community” said Jennifer Secor, Executive Direction of the Foundation.  “The symposium was designed to bring mental health awareness and education to our community, and to touch on current and relevant topics”.

The cost to attend is $45 if registered and paid on or before April 29 ($55 after). Students are $25, and NAMI members can attend for free.  The registration fee includes the full day of speakers and presentations, parking at the Ocean Center, lunch and refreshments.  For professionals, they can also earn up to four CEU’s.  To register, please visit https://www.whoisjay.org/2018-mental-health-symposium/ and click on the registration link.

The Who is Jay? mental health awareness campaign started in May 2015 with a few billboards and t-shirts directing individuals to a website with mental health resources. To date the site has over 24,000 visits.  In 2016 there was the addition of a half day mental health symposium held in St. Augustine.  2017 brings yet another expansion to include a new and improved website (to be unveiled May 1), Votran advertising, and the full day symposium with national speakers.  “The success and growth of the Who is Jay? mental health awareness campaign has been amazing” said Melissa Murphy, Chairman of the Board for the Foundation “and we are very proud to be a part of it”.

Funding for the event is provided in part by the Jay’s Hope Fund, which is managed by the Foundation, registration fees and sponsorships. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Cyndi Hines, PR Specialist at Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation 386-254-1136 or chines@smabehavioral.org.  For more details about the event, please visit www.SMAFoundation.com or www.whoisjay.org.