Mental Health on Campus Discussed at USC, Monday

Contact: Gilien Silsby at (213) 740-9690 or (213) 500-8673

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Mental Health on Campus Discussed at USC, Monday

Students struggling with mental illness learn how to navigate the college experience – from admissions to graduation at Saks Institute event

WHAT: The USC Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics presents “Mental Health on Campus: From Admission to Graduation: Keys to Success for University, Community College, and Veteran Students.” The one-day discussion will run the gamut of the student experience, including: learning first steps for earning admission and getting oriented; helping students maintain mental health during their academic experience, developing support networks and preparing for a successful career after graduation.

WHO: USC Interim Provost Michael Quick will welcome attendees.

The conference will include presentations from students, school administrators, professors and counselors, including:

Heather McLetchie-Leader, doctoral candidate at Harvard University

Elyn Saks, USC law professor and director of the Saks Institute

Ilene Rosenstein, PhD, director of counseling and psychological services at USC

Anthony Hassan, EdD, MSW, clinical professor and director of USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families

Peter Blanck, PhD, JD, professor and chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University

SESSIONS: The conference will provide a series of presentations on the following topics:

·      Earning admission, getting oriented, and off to a good start

·      Leaves of absence and returns: Supportive and sensible policies

·      Support networks: Programs, professors and fellow students

·      Launching a successful career: Preparing students for the future

WHEN: Monday, March 30^th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

WHERE: USC’s Town & Gown Ballroom, 665 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles 90089

COST: The event is free; RSVP is required as space is limited.

PARKING AND MEDIA: Please call Gilien Silsby for parking and information.

REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE: To register go to: http://law.usc.edu/go/sakssymposium

For the full schedule, go to: http://weblaw.usc.edu/centers/saks/assets/docs/saks2015.pdf

BACKGROUND: USC Law Prof. Elyn Saks, a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, launched the Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics in 2010 to foster interdisciplinary and collaborative research among scholars and policymakers on issues of mental illness and mental health. Today the Saks Institute is one of the country’s most respected mental health policy centers. Saks' award-winning memoir The Center Cannot Hold has helped hundreds of families and people struggling with mental illness as well as dispelled the stigma associated with mental illness.