Mental Health Series

Peace River Center Hosts Mental Health Matters Panels to Increase Awareness

BARTOW, Fla., April 8, 2022 – Peace River Center, a licensed and nationally accredited, non-profit regional provider of mental health, substance use, and integrated medical services is partnering with Polk Vision’s Behavioral Health Committee, to host Mental Health Matters. The series of panel discussions are aimed at educating and equipping the community with resources to address mental health issues. A moderator will lead subject-matter experts through key issues and then take audience questions. The sessions take place throughout May and include Mental Health and Youth on May 3, Trauma and the Pandemic on May 19, and Mental Health and the Workplace on May 24. All sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. at The Well, 114 E Parker St, Lakeland, FL 33801 or via Zoom. Breakfast is provided for in-person attendees. Mental Health Matters is sponsored by Florida Blue Foundation and Sunshine Health. Individuals can learn more and register by visiting www.PeaceRiverCenter.org/mhm2022.

The first Mental Health and Youth session will cover Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), mental illness age of onset, and how behavioral health and mental health challenges compare. The panel will also address suicide prevention and intervention as well as mental health support resources. The panel of youth mental health experts includes Dr. Simon Chamakalayil who specializes in Child/Adolescent Psychiatry at Lakeland Regional Health; Tiffani Fritzsche, LMHC, CBHCMS, Children’s Services Director at Peace River Center; and Christy Olson, EdD, LMHC, Sr. Coordinator of Mental Health Services for Polk County Public Schools. The Youth and Mental Health panelists will explore the most pressing challenges facing today’s children and teens, as well as ways to build resilience and coping skills.

Additional details will be added as they are available; please visit www.PeaceRiverCenter.org or Peace River Center’s social media for more information.