Southern California Psychiatrists Reach Out During MIAW
Showing support for people in the community with mental illness and their families and friends, the Southern California Psychiatric Society (SCPS) put a lot of oomph behind the phrase “talk the talk” during Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), held this year from October 5 to 11.
The SCPS is a long-time observer of MIAW; each year it sponsors a booth and provides information about mental illness at the NAMIWalks Los Angeles County event. This year’s walk was held on Saturday, October 11, at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles.
NAMIWalks Los Angeles County is the county’s largest fund-raising event to support mental health initiatives and fight stigma. Proceeds fund NAMI’s support and education programs for families and individuals living with mental illness. The event is just one of many walks sponsored by NAMI throughout the country.
SCPS members Robert Burchuk, M.D., David Fogelson, M.D., Lawrence Gross, M.D., Roderick Shaner, M.D., and Heather Silverman, M.D., provided information and answered questions at the booth.
“The turnout for the L.A. NAMIWalk was inspiring,” said Fogelson, who is SCPS president.
“There were close to a thousand participants, many of whom visited our booth. They came from all walks of life. Some were family members, and others were suffering from mental illness and searching for a good source of information about mental disorders. They were happy and pleased to be directed to the SCPS and the APA website and to be given APA brochures about mental illness.” ■
