Free forum to focus on children's mental health disorders

Free forum to focus on children’s mental health disorders

MARSHALL – A free community-awareness forum focusing on children’s mental health disorders is being planned by a support group for families of individuals with a mental health diagnosis.

The two-hour forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the third-floor conference room of the Wright Medical Building, 215 E. Mansion St., adjacent to Oaklawn Hospital. There is no cost to participants.

The session is under the auspices of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an education, advocacy and support organization that assists people who live with mental health conditions and their families who deal with issues of depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety disorders or co-occurring issues involving substances.

Gini Haffner, a NAMI representative, said the chief presenter will be Cynthia Wagner, M.A., a member of the staff of Oaklawn Hospital Bear Creek Campus/Oaklawn Psychological Services. A question-and-answer panel also is planned, as well as testimonies from parents.

Wagner completed her undergraduate studies and received her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Western Michigan University. Her specialties include attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, child/adolescent, family and individual therapy, divorce adjustment and infant mental health.

Wagner, who joined the staff of Oaklawn Hospital in 1990, also leads classes in parenting strategies for strong-willed children and children with ADHD.

Those seeking additional information are advised to send an e-mail to Haffner at ghaff99432@aol.com. More information about NAMI’s programs is available at www.nami.org. The organization has a nationwide membership of about 220,000 people.