LEON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE BIG READ, NAMI TALLAHASSEE, AND LAB GIRL
- March 4 @ 6:30 p.m.: Mental Health: Foster Resiliency, End the Stigma with NAMI Tallahassee
- March 13 @ 10:00 a.m.: Pop Up Book Club, Big Read book discussion of Lab Girl with NAMI Tallahassee
The Leon County Public Library has invited a panel of mental health providers and representatives from non-profit organizations in the community to discuss mental health treatment, resources, and services in Leon County. Partners include Capital Regional Medical Center, Apalachee Center and 211 Big Bend. The discussion will be Thursday, March 4, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Other topics will include how to support family members and how Covid-19 has impacted mental health and mental health services in the community.
To join the Zoom webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92259252443
About our panelists:
- Helena Reid is finishing up her master’s degree in social work at FSU. She has worked as a hotline counselor at 2-1-1- Big Bend for over 2 years and it led her to pursue a degree in social work. There is nothing she would rather do for a career.
- Kelli Mercer grew up in Louisville, KY and attended Western Kentucky University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Music. She moved to Tallahassee in 2002 where she received her Masters degree in Music Therapy from Florida State University. Kelli has worked in healthcare since 2004, with over 10 years in the behavioral health field. Kelli is a NAMI Tallahassee Board Member and the Program Director for Capital Regional Behavioral Health Center. As an HCA hospital, Capital Regional Medical Center serves as an affiliate office of the Jason Foundation, Inc. In conjunction with her role at the hospital, Kelli began working with the Jason Foundation four years ago. The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs that equip young people, educators/youth workers and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth. She is passionate about connecting those in need with resources to help improve their health and overall quality of life.
- Laura Ireland is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist with the Community Action Team at Apalachee Center in Leon county. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and has been certified as a peer specialist since 2019. She has worked as a peer specialist for over four years and served several different demographics, the most recent being children with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
- Dr. Mark Reeves is Director of Psychological Services at Apalachee Center, Inc. He provides psychotherapy, trains student therapists, educates the public, and serves on the Mental Health Council of the Big Bend.