In conjunction with May being observed as Mental Health Month, Ephraim McDowell Health is sponsoring a Mental Health Symposium on Wednesday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Boyle County Public Library, located at 307 West Broadway in Danville.  

This free event is presented in partnership with the Danville Rotary Club. Lunch will be included.

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Danville Rotary Club on this event,” said Libby Mayes, assistant vice president of Community Engagement at Ephraim McDowell Health.  “Mental health has become an important topic, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hope is that this symposium will spark conversations that raise awareness of the mental health issues impacting our community.”

The symposium will get under way at 10 a.m. with registration and networking, followed by opening remarks and a prayer by Dr. Scott Scutchfield from the Danville Rotary Club.

Presentations are scheduled as follows:

• Boyle County EMS Team – Danville/Boyle County Data and What EMS is Seeing in Our Community
• Boyle County ASAP/Kathy Miles, LFMT, LCADC – Harm Reduction and Syringe Exchange Program
• Nurture’s Nest/Rebecca Patterson, LPCC-S, RPT-S – Signs and Symptoms of Suicide and the Importance of Self-care
• Panel Discussion – Mental Health and Our Community including questions from attendees.

The discussion leader for the panel discussion will be Ra’shea Ford, founder of Don’t Sleep, Inc.  Panel members will include: Alicia Broadwater, RN, director of the Behavioral Medical Unit at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (Lifepoint); the Boyle County EMS Team; Kathy Miles, coordinator of Boyle County ASAP; Rebecca Patterson, clinical director and CEO of Nurture’s Nest; Aaron Atwood, MACMHS, LPCC-S, BIP, C-DBT, team leader and therapist with Quest Counseling; and Maggie Myers, Region 6 program manager for Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.

To register for this free event, go to shorturl.at/eryJK.