NET Hosts “Well Beings” Events to Encourage Mental Health Understanding, Compassion
For Immediate Release
NET Hosts “Well Beings” Events to Encourage Mental Health Understanding, Compassion
LINCOLN, Neb. (March 10, 2020) – NET, Nebraska’s PBS & NPR Stations, is one of 24 public media stations across the nation increasing awareness about mental health issues by connecting young people and those who care about them with frontline professionals.
As part of this “Well Beings” regional tour, NET is planning a “Well Beings Mental Health Resource Fair” from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, March 19 at City Impact, 1035 N. 33rd St., in Lincoln. This free informational event is open to the public, and will help parents, teachers, counselors, caregivers, families and students, especially those in high school and their first year college, understand ways communities can support each other and encourage compassion.
In some way, everyone in Nebraska is impacted by mental health issues, medical conditions that make it difficult for people to cope with ordinary life. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-34 year olds in Nebraska.
At the “Well Beings Mental Health Resource Fair,” a panel discussion will feature mental health experts including Dr. David Miers, counseling and program development manager at Bryan Medical Center; University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Jaden Roe who is involved with the Green Bandana Project on campus; Brenda Leggiadro who supervises counseling and school social work for the Lincoln Public Schools; and Omaha North High School junior Corie McCowan, a student journalist for the “PBS NewsHour” Reporting Lab, working in cooperation with NET News.
Nebraska agencies that address mental health issues will provide information and resources. Participants can share their personal experiences in a storytelling booth and on an Instagram wall, and also learn about volunteer opportunities in the community. Free food will be available at the event.
Nebraskans are encouraged to join the conversation about mental health on the “Well Beings” Story Wall. Share comments on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube with the hashtag #WellBeings.
In conjunction with the “Well Beings Mental Health Resource Fair,” NET is planning a free, day-long “Mental Health First Aid Training” from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 21, at NET, 1800 N. 33rd St. in Lincoln.
The skills-based training course will teach participants how to administer first aid in a mental health crisis and demonstrate ways to support friends, family members and colleagues. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required by Friday, March 20, at netnebraska.org/wellbeings.
Resource partners for the “Well Beings” events in Nebraska include: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Nebraska division); The HUB; “Big Red Resilience” and “Well Beings” programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; The Kim Foundation; CenterPointe; Bryan Medical Center; the University of Nebraska’s Green Bandana Program; and St. Monica’s.
“Well Beings” events in Nebraska and across the country are leading up to a new Ken Burns’ series on America’s mental health crisis that is scheduled for broadcast on PBS stations in 2021.
“Well Beings” is a national campaign in partnership with the public media station WETA in Washington, D.C., that is using the power and reach of public television and radio stations across the country to address this critical national issue.
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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.