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TRIADELPHIA -- West Liberty University's College of Education and Human Performance is partnering with the National Alliance of Mental Illness to present a mental health conference today and Friday at the Highlands Event Center.
Keynote speakers are mental health activist Gabe Howard today and suicide prevention activist Taryn Aiken Hiatt on Friday.
The success of the first conference last spring inspired the partners to again offer educational speakers, breakout sessions for discussions and fitness activities that address mental health.
"The goal is to reduce the stigma of mental illness and encourage people to strive for mental health," said Catherine Monteroso, interim dean. "Anything we can do to educate the public on the need for taking care of mental health as well as physical health is important."
Howard presents his story at 8:30 a.m. today. An award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar and anxiety disorders, Howard is the host of the weekly "Psych Central Show," an iTunes Top Ten podcast.
Aiken-Hiatt takes the podium at 8:30 a.m. Friday. She is the area director for Utah and Nevada for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which is the nation's largest suicide prevention organization.
Breakout sessions take place after the keynote speakers. Other nationally known speakers include Rudy Caseres at noon today and Irene Hurford at noon Friday.
Caseres is an award-winning public speaker, social media influencer, and event producer who lives with bipolar disorder. Hurford is an assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Psychiatry.