STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton’s Erath Engaged Initiative and the Erath County-based Engaging for Change Community Coalition (EC3) will host their first Mental Health Summit beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, at the Foster’s Home for Children in Stephenville. 

The event is free for the surrounding community, and lunch will be provided.

“Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and provide a platform for individuals to come together, share their experiences and identify ways to improve access to mental health resources,” said Dr. Subi Gandhi, Associate Professor of public health. 

Participants will experience interactive opportunities to learn about mental health resources in their community and how to take care of their own mental health at work, home and through self-care — all vital, reflected recent Tarleton graduate Emmanuelle Clay, a Project Specialist for Erath Engaged. 

“Collaborating with EC3 has prompted me to more closely examine the gaps among mental health services within the community,” she said.

Dr. Becky Earlie-Royer, Lauren Herrington and Justin Brown from the Texas Department of State Health Services – Public Health Region 2/3 will present the program’s keynote speech, “The Intersection of Public and Mental Health.”

Counseling Assistant Professor Dr. Lashondra Manning will present “Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare,” and Tarleton English Professor Dr. Moumin Quazi will present “Achieving Work/Life Balance.” Erath County Agrilife Extension Agent Andrea Brooks will present a session focused on “Nutrition and Mental Health.”

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available for attendees.

“It can be difficult, even intimidating, to reach out when you need help,” said Sienna Poore, Community Coalition Coordinator from the Erath County Star Council. “With the Mental Health Summit, members of the community will be able to gain knowledge of the resources available to them at no cost. We want to encourage our communities to advocate for positive mental health.”

Register at https://tarletonstate.us/ErathMentalHealth.

For more information, contact Poore at [email protected], Dr. Gandhi at [email protected] or Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards at [email protected]. 

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.