CROSSPOSTING OFFER: This virtual event is available for crossposting on media outlet Facebook accounts that are open to the public. If interested, email Eric Martin at emartin@netNebraska.org with a link to your organization’s Facebook page and the contact name, email and phone number of one of the page adminstrators. We will take requests through Wednesday, Jan. 27.
For Immediate Release
‘Mental Health in Communities of Color’ is NET’s Next Virtual ‘WELL BEINGS’ Event
LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 15, 2021) – Shared cultural experiences can play a role in mental health. Family connections, values, music and reliance on community and religious networks can be great sources of strength and support in communities of color.
NET, Nebraska’s PBS & NPR Stations, is hosting its third virtual “WELL BEINGS” online event, “Mental Health in Communities of Color,” at 4 p.m. CT, Thursday, Jan. 28, at netNebraska.org/wellbeings. This is a free virtual event and registration is not required.
According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, shared experiences in communities of color can include facing racism, discrimination or inequity that can significantly affect a person’s mental health. Being treated or perceived as “less than” because of skin color can be stressful and even traumatizing, according to NAMI. Additionally, members of communities of color may have difficulty accessing care and treatment or experience socioeconomic disparities that contribute to worse mental health outcomes.
“Mental Health Communities of Color” includes a panel of experts who are on the frontlines of providing care and understanding for youth who struggle with mental health issues that may lead to suicide. In Nebraska, the youth suicide rate is higher than the national average, and a leading cause of death for 10-24-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The virtual event will feature personal stories from young adults, as well as practical skills and information that students, parents, teachers and others who care for young people can use to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
NET announcer/reporter William Padmore will moderate the virtual discussion.
Panelists include:
Miguel Estevez, PLMHP, PLADC - Friendship House, Grand Island, Neb.
Estevez is an English, Spanish and Portuguese trilingual mental health professional serving young Nebraskans and others through programs and therapy to cope with traumatic events, mental health conditions including substance use, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
Dr. Charmayne Adams, PhD - University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Neb.
Adams is an assistant professor at UNO and licensed professional counselor. Her background includes work with individuals who have a history of trauma or are in crisis. Both clinically and academically, Adams focuses on social justice counseling and empowering people to examine barriers and use their strengths to overcome life’s challenges.
Dr. Anitra Warrior, PhD - Morningstar Counseling & Consultation, Lincoln and Beatrice, Neb.
Influenced by her cultural heritage, Warrior values family and community. She attended Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago, Neb., and continued her psychology studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has extensive experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
Mental health experts from the Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health in Omaha, Neb., will be responding to participant questions that are posted in the comments section of the NET Nebraska Facebook livestream.
Participants can submit questions about youth mental health prior to the event or access information about Nebraska mental health resources at netNebraska.org/wellbeings.
Nebraskans are encouraged to join the conversation about mental health by using #WellBeings or tagging us @NETNebraska on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.
“WELL BEINGS” events in Nebraska and across the country are leading up to a new Ken Burns’ documentary “Hiding in Plain Sight: Our Mental Health Crisis” scheduled for broadcast on PBS stations in Spring 2022.
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CONTACT: Kim Rogers, 402-660-5521, krogers@netNebraska.org
NET, Nebraska’s PBS & NPR Stations, is the statewide public media service dedicated to creating opportunities for Nebraskans to engage with critical issues, compelling stories and quality entertainment. NET serves each of Nebraska’s 93 counties with 52,560 hours of programming each year on four television and two radio channels, plus online and mobile content. In addition to providing free, high-quality educational programming for children, NET provides programming in the arts, award-winning news and current affairs information and emergency alert services. For more information about NET, visit netNebraska.org.
WELL BEINGS addresses the critical health needs of Americans through broadcast content, original digital content, and impactful local events. The multi-year campaign, created by WETA Washington, D.C., brings together partners from across the country, including patients, families, caregivers, teachers, medical and mental health professionals, social service agencies, private foundations, filmmakers, corporations and media sponsors, to create awareness and resources for better health for all. To learn more, visit WellBeings.org or follow @WellBeingsOrg on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, and join the conversation with #WellBeings.