Verona Juniors Host Event On Mental Illness

Would you be ready to help a family member or friend living with mental illness? Odds are, someone you know is affected. The statistics show that mental illness is common and widespread. One in five New Jersey families is affected by mental illness. An estimated 54 million Americans suffer from some form of mental illness in a given year.

On Monday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m., the Verona Juniors will host “Mental Illness in our Families: Understanding the Signs and Connecting to Treatment and Support”. This event, to be held at the Verona Community Center, will feature a moderated panel discussion and information table from local mental health organizations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ).

Although mental illness is quite prevalent, many people lack the information and resources to provide help to those close to them. The Junior Woman’s Club of Verona, involved in a two year-long effort to raise community awareness around mental illness, invites the community to learn more about mental illness and how to make connections to treatment and support resources. This event is designed to help families struggling with mental illnesses including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety disorders, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Presenters will include Laverne Williams of MHANJ, Montclair Police Department Lieutenant Richard Cavanaugh, the Essex County CIT Law Enforcement Coordinator, Patricia Keenan, Assistant Director of the Essex County Hospital Center, and Richard Carson, Peer Counselor at Project Live. Connie Pfiefer from the Verona Health Department will moderate the panel. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NJ Essex/Passaic and MHANJ will have information about their support services and other resources available.

This free event is open to the public. For more information, contact [email protected].