The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine has partnered with the Andrews Center to raise awareness of mental health needs in East Texas through the Mental Health Summit.
The Andrews Center will host the East Texas Mental Health Summit on May 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center, 2000 W. Front St. in Tyler. The event is free and open to the public and will feature the state’s leading authorities on mental health.
“One of the critical gaps we have identified in health care in East Texas is the lack of mental health support,” said Dr. Brigham Willis, dean of the UT Tyler School of Medicine. “We are honored to work with the Andrews Center to highlight the urgency of this issue.”
East Texas has some of the highest suicide death rates in the state, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. The per capita suicide death rate in the Andrews Center’s service area of Smith, Henderson, Rains, Van Zandt and Wood counties has increased 77% over the past 22 years, outpacing the 46% increase in Texas.
“Suicide, and all mental illness, is truly tragic,” said Lynn Rutland, CEO of the Andrews Center. “If a mental health disorder is impacting you or your family, we encourage you to attend the East Texas Mental Health Summit. It will bring more attention to the topic and support.”
Featured speakers at the Mental Health Summit will be Dr. Cheryl McCallum-Smith, chair of the Robert M. Rogers Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Tyler Medical College of Utah; Lee Johnson, CEO of the Texas Council of Community Centers, and Andy Keller, director and CEO of the Meadows Institute for Mental Health Policy. After the conference, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about local mental health services at a resource vendor show from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Mr McCallum-Smith said: “I am honored to be able to speak on this issue alongside other leading mental health experts.” “This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and share insights and strategies to address critical mental health needs in our region.”
To register for the Mental Health Summit, visit andrewscenter.com/east-texas-mental-health-summit.
