NJAMHAA and AIR™ Hold Annual Conference Virtually August 17 – 21, 2020
Ready for School and Addressing COVID Impact?
Mental Health Experts and Education Leaders Can Help!
NJAMHAA and AIR™ Hold Annual Conference Virtually August 17 – 21, 2020
(MERCERVILLE, August 11, 2020) – The coronavirus pandemic is having a significant negative impact on mental health, which can be especially difficult for youth, as they have not had daily, in-person contact with friends throughout the crisis and lost access to school supports. With school starting, they will need to adjust to additional changes. To help individuals who have children and/or work with youth prepare to support students through this transition, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA) and Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR™) will host their Eighth Annual Suicide Prevention Conference, Packing a Toolkit for the New Norm, co-sponsored by Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) – New Jersey Chapter. This virtual conference will consist of five presentations, each to be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom August 17, 2020 through August 21, 2020.
“Parents and school personnel need to be aware of the impact of the pandemic and changes in the new school year could have on youth and be prepared to recognize signs of youth struggling, intervene in a positive manner, determine if professional mental health care is needed and connect youth to such professionals,” said Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President and CEO of NJAMHAA.
“We are excited to feature several experts from the mental health and education fields, as well as individuals with inspiring stories about how they have overcome mental health challenges, both before and during the pandemic. Their presentations will fortify individuals who work with youth to support them most effectively as the school year begins and beyond,” said AIR Co-founder Tricia Baker, YMHFA, CPDT-KA.
“We are grateful for our partnerships with NJAMHAA, AFSP and Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic, which enable us to present this critical information to everyone who works with children, as well as for parents,” added AIR Co-founder Kurtis Baker, YMHFA, CFP®.
Conference Agenda
The presentations described below will take place via Zoom from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. each day.
- Monday, August 17th Initiatives in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic from a Mental Health Perspective: Craig Kramer, JD, MBA, Mental Health Ambassador and Chair, Global Campaign for Mental Health, Neuroscience External Affairs, Janssen R&D, a Johnson & Johnson Company
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Conference Helps Prepare for New School Year, Address Pandemic’s Mental Health Impact/Page 2 of 2
- Tuesday, August 18th How New Jersey Schools Are Preparing for Reopening and Supporting Students: David Aderhold, EdD, Superintendent of Schools, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, and Jennifer Walters, LPC, Elementary and Middle School Counselor, Princeton Public Schools
- Wednesday, August 19th Strategies for Helping Youth Cope with the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 and Adjust to the New School Year – Jane Todey, EDSp, Private Consultant, Former Research Program Manager, Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute, Iowa State University
- Thursday, August 20th Proactive Approach to Suicide Prevention: Foundational Focus on Functional Emotional Development Jeff Guenzel, MA, LPC, Chief Executive Officer, Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning
- Friday, August 21st Inspiring Stories of Overcoming Mental Health Challenges during the Pandemic and Overall: Carrie Genzel, AIR Advisory Board Member, Actress, Writer and Producer, and Peter Lee Kramer, Mental Health Advocate
For more details and to register for this event, visit www.njamhaa.org/events and click on the link to the online registration page. Registration fees will support AIR’s life-saving educational programs.
The New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc. (NJAMHAA) is a statewide trade association representing 144 organizations that serve New Jersey residents with mental illness and/or substance use disorders, and their families. Their members may be found in every county and almost every community statewide. They serve more than 500,000 children and adults each year and contribute to the economy through 61,000 direct and indirect jobs. NJAMHAA’s mission is to promote the value of its members as the highest quality behavioral healthcare providers for the residents of New Jersey through advocacy and professional development. For more information about NJAMHAA, please visit www.njamhaa.org.
Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR™) was established by Tricia, Kurt and Katelyn Baker of Plainsboro, NJ, in 2010, soon after their son/brother Kenny died by suicide following a long battle against severe depression and anxiety. Their mission is to save lives by educating students about mental health, related disorders and suicide prevention. Since January 2011, they have presented to more than 95,000 students in middle and high schools and colleges in New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Missouri, Texas and Arizona. AIR also offers Youth Mental Health First Aid instruction and includes the AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds™ program, bringing dogs into schools to help students de-stress and engage in the conversation about mental health. In addition, AIR trains and certifies Emotional Support Animals and offers a lunch-and-learn program for businesses. For more information about AIR, please visit www.air.ngo or call 609-945-3200.
Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic is a private, not-for-profit, behavioral healthcare system that specializes in psychiatric and substance abuse addiction treatment, founded in 1910. One of the largest independent, nonprofit central Jersey behavioral health facilities, Carrier Clinic specializes in inpatient psychiatric treatment and treatment and rehabilitation for substance abuse. Carrier Clinic provides a complete array of expert care and education for adolescents and teens, adults, and older adults on the inpatient and residential levels. Outpatient services are provided for ECT treatment and drug abuse addiction. Carrier Clinic offers free community education, screenings and support groups. For additional information on Carrier Clinic’s programs and services and to see their new building and facility upgrades, visit CarrierClinic.org.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health by funding scientific research; educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention; advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention; and supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide in its mission. AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. For more information about AFSP, please visit www.afsp.org.
