April 9, 2008

Purdue Nursing conference to focus on mental health

The conference will feature physician, author and motivational speaker Dr. Bernie Siegel as the keynote speaker. Siegel, an advocate for individuals facing the challenges of chronic illness, will make two presentations.

Beginning at 1 p.m., Siegel will present "Love, Magic and Mudpies: Love as the Foundation for Mental and Physical Health." At 2:45 p.m., Siegel will deliver "The Art of Healing: Experiences and Resources for Parents, Teachers and Healthcare Providers Working with Families."

Siegel promotes the message that hope and love should be extended to all who seek a whole-person approach for living life fully each day. His books include: "Love, Medicine & Miracles;" "Peace, Love & Healing;" "How To Live Between Office Visits;" "Prescriptions for Living;" "Help Me To Heal;" "365 Prescriptions For The Soul;" "Smudge Bunny;" "101 Exercises For The Soul;" and "Love, Magic & Mudpies."

Other conference speakers will include:

• Sally Downham Miller, a leading grief and recovery expert and author of "Mourning and Dancing" and "Mourning and Dancing for Schools." Downham Miller also serves as principal of Happy Hollow Elementary School in West Lafayette, Ind.

• Kimble L. Richardson, a physician and referral liaison at St. Vincent Stress Center in Indianapolis. Richardson is a member of the state licensure board for social workers, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. He currently serves as board president and administrative law judge.

• Bernie Seaman, the current chairman of the board of trustees of Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County. Seaman will discuss her son’s battle with attention deficit disorder and subsequent depression that led to his suicide at the age of 23.

• Julie Novak, professor and head of the Purdue School of Nursing and associate dean of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences. Novak will discuss evidence-based mental health promotions, including: Keep your Children/Yourself Safe and Secure, Families and Schools Together and the Teen Outreach Program.

The conference, which is open to the public, begins with registration at 7 a.m. and a welcome at 8 a.m. Attendance is limited, and registration is required. Purdue students may attend free of charge with registration and a valid Purdue I.D. The registration fee is $50 for Purdue faculty and staff and $75 for the general public. A discounted rate of $50 is available for three or more people from the same facility or organization. More registration details can be found at www.nursing.purdue.edu.

Purdue University Continuing Nursing Education will provide 6.3 contact hours for nurses who attend.

The Purdue School of Nursing has been approved as a provider in continuing education by the Indiana State Nurses Association, which is accredited as an approver of continuing education by the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation.

Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County Inc., in cooperation with the Indiana Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Board, will provide 6.5 contact hours of Category I Continuing Education for this conference for the following professions: L.S.W, L.C.S.W, L.M.F.T, and L.M.H.C.

Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu

Sources: Roxanne Martin, (765) 494-4003, martinrj@purdue.edu

Tristan Emery, (765) 494-4012, temery@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page