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Posts tagged as “mental illness”

Don Cornelius Foundation Kicks Off Suicide Prevention Week With Sept. 7 Event in Los Angeles

Chicago's 40th Anniversary Soul Train Concert To Honor Don Cornelius
The Don Cornelius Foundation (DCF) is kicking off Suicide Prevention Week themed “I AM THE FACE,” with an afternoon of music and fellowship on Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 3:00 pm at the popular Post & Beam restaurant in Los Angeles, CA.
The DCF is a non-profit organization formed by the family of Donald “Don” C. Cornelius, creator of “Soul Train,” who ended his life by suicide on February 1, 2012. Radio personality Pat Prescott from 94.7 The Wave will host.
Renaissance man Don Cornelius’ entrepreneurial spirit and vast contribution to television, music, the arts and popular culture is unparalleled. The foundation – whose slogan is ‘Life is beautiful, precious and worth living’ – was established to provide awareness, prevention and support for those contemplating suicide and survivors who have lost loved ones to suicide.
Committed to identifying and supporting programs assisting those in transition and in need of healing, DCF has chosen three organizations for initial grants in 2014, namely New Directions for Veterans, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Urban LA, and The Los Angeles LGBT Center. These organizations are committed to serving underserved, at-risk communities and to increasing their capacities within the African-American community.
Helmed by Restaurateur Brad Johnson and Chef Govind Armstrong, Post & Beam offers California cuisine with a touch of soul to the surrounding Baldwin Hills neighborhood and beyond. “We’re pleased to be associated with Post & Beam” says Don’s son Tony Cornelius who heads up DCF.
Post & Beam is located at 3767 Santa Rosalia Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008. Tickets can be purchased online at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-am-the-face-tickets-12682942021
Information is also available on the website http://thedoncorneliusfoundation.org
Read more at http://www.eurweb.com/2014/08/don-cornelius-foundation-kicks-off-suicide-prevention-week-sept-7/#xSyxe0EbjImfkrOD.99

Obama Calls for End to Mental Illness Stigma

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqnF3UicuQs&w=560&h=315]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Monday called for a more robust national discussion on mental illness, saying the time had come to bring the issue “out of the shadows.”

Speaking at the opening session of a White House conference on mental health, the president said his goal was to let people affected by these issues know they should not suffer in silence.

“Struggling with a mental illness or caring for someone who does can be isolating,” Obama said. “It begins to feel as if, not only are you alone, but that you shouldn’t burden others with the challenge.”

Barack ObamaThe conference is part of Obama’s response to last year’s shooting massacre at a Connecticut elementary school. While the president emphasized that most people with mental health problems are not violent, he said untreated mental illness can lead to larger tragedies.

There’s been little publicly revealed about the mental health of Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza, although it’s been documented that other gunmen involved in mass shootings suffered from mental illness. Federal law bans certain mentally ill people from purchasing firearms, but the background check system is woefully incomplete and Obama is trying to get more mental health records included.

“We can do something about stories like this,” he said. “In many cases, treatment is available and effective.” Top administration officials, along with actors Bradley Cooper and Glenn Close, were among those participating in the White House conference.

The agenda includes discussion of insurance coverage for mental health care and substance abuse, recognizing the signs of mental illness in young people and improved access to services for veterans. The overall goal is reducing the stigma of mental health problems and encouraging those who are struggling to get help.