Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Black Community
Join us every 3rd Wednesday of the month for this informative wellness series - the Together We Will Heal forum - that talks about mental health, substance use disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as the general well-being of African Americans. CTAAFSC’s vision is to educate the African American community on these topics and to provide resources for black mental health. Over two decades and counting, we have been doing this with the help of the community and organizations by meeting annually at the CTAASFC. We want to continue these conversations every month. #TogetherWeWillHeal. #TogetherWeWillGrow.
UPCOMING FORUM: May 15 @ 1:30 PM CT
TOPIC: Mental Health: The Power of Closing the Humanity Gap.
Abstract: Dr. Pickles, an educational czar, shares her personal experiences living with her son, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. To challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about the disorder, this mother approaches mental illness with a lens of neurodiversity. She emphasizes the need for individuals to have access to socialization and a sense of community by fostering empathy and understanding and promoting societal acceptance. She thinks nothing is more important than compassion for another person's suffering.
Dr. Patricia L. Pickles is a mother, an advocate for mental health and wellness, an educational czar, a humanitarian, an innovator, a trailblazer, a visionary, and an author. Her loving and thoughtful son began demonstrating his mental health battles at the tender age of sixteen. Dr. Pickles has navigated the trenches of the mental health system for a quarter of a century.
Patricia’s extensive professional background includes frontline experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, adjunct professor, senior director for the Texas Department of Education (TEA), project coordinator for a regional office of education, chief academic officer, superintendent of schools, and educational leadership and mental health consultant.
