St. Petersburg, FL – A Tampa Bay area non-profit wants to take the stigma out of seeking behavioral health services, such as therapy. Through a series of “lunch & learn” sessions, Pinellas County Urban League Young Professionals (PCULYP) are exploring the reasons why many don’t get the help they need. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, mental health issues go untreated more often in communities of color due to lack of access, lack of insurance coverage, bias, and more. This event will focus on knowing when and how to seek help for yourself or a loved one. With the advice of licensed mental health counselor, Zaneta Ellison of New Vision Behavioral Health, Inc., those who attend can expect to get a healthy helping of ways to recognize symptoms of the most common mental health diagnoses; as well as, when to consult a professional and how to choose the right course of treatment.
“Unfortunately, there is still a stigma associated with seeking help from mental health professionals. Especially in the African American community. We will bring awareness and hopefully provide solutions as we initiate dialogue with a licensed mental health counselor regarding how to recognize we need help and how to ask for help” explains PCULYP Health & Wellness Chair, Dr. Brittany Peters.
The event, “Mental Health Lunch & Learn: Asking for Help” will take place on Saturday, March 30th at Rush Hour Chicken & Waffles from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The event is open to the public, but seating is limited. RSVP is required by Wednesday, March 27th. For more information, please visit WWW.PCULYP.ORG