SMITHFIELD — The Johnston County Department of Social Services will host its first mental health symposium May 12 at Johnston Community College.
The event, titled “Mind Matters: Navigating the Path to Wellness,” will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Tart Building. Attendance is free, but advance registration is required.
Steve Pemberton will deliver the keynote address. A former chief human resources officer, he now serves as managing director at Seramount, a workforce research and advisory firm. He is the author of “A Chance in the World,” a memoir, and “The Lighthouse Effect,” which encourages leaders to use their lived experiences to guide others.
The symposium will include several workshops focused on mental health awareness, prevention and support services.
Sessions include “Awareness to Action: Strategies for Youth Suicide Prevention,” presented by Sonyia Richardson, founder and chief executive of Another Level Counseling and Consultation.
Omari Mitchell, a licensed clinical addiction specialist with Johnston County DSS, will lead “Fentanyl, Vaping and New Age Drugs: What You Need to Know.” Tanya Smith, regional outreach representative for Lighthouse Autism Center of North Carolina, will present “Beyond the Diagnosis: Autism, Mental Health and Building a Regulation-Ready Community.”
“Reigniting the Passion: Strategies to Avoid Burnout” will be led by Walter Johnson, a parent educator and trainer.
More information and registration are available online at sites.google.com/view/jocodssmhs.