Washington, DC / October 9, 2017 – On Wednesday, October 11, 2017, former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) will deliver remarks titled, “My Journey: Making Mental Health Essential Health” at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. The event, co-hosted by the College’s Collegiate Recovery Program and Counseling and Substance Abuse Services, is free and open to the public.
Mr. Kennedy will explore the state of mental health care in the U.S. and inspire attendees to join the critical fight against separate and unequal treatment of mental illness, addiction, and other brain diseases.
“The Collegiate Recovery Program is honored to welcome Patrick Kennedy to campus, as he is one of the nation’s leading advocates for making addiction treatment more accessible to those who need help,” says Wood Marchant ’89, director of the program, which supports students in recovery from addiction as they pursue their degrees. “His work supporting those with mental illness is inspiring, and we look forward to hearing how his own recovery helped him help others.”
During his 16 years serving Rhode Island’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Kennedy fought to end discrimination against mental illness, addiction, and brain diseases—and was a lead sponsor of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which requires that insurance companies treat mental illness and addiction the same way they treat other diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
Mr. Kennedy is a lifelong mental health advocate and member of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. He is the founder of The Kennedy Forum, a convening think tank tackling mental health and addiction issues and co-founder of One Mind, a global leader in open science collaboration for brain research. In 2015, he co-authored A Common Struggle, a New York Times best seller, which details his personal journey and provides a blueprint for transforming our nation’s mental health system.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from 10 a.m.
WHERE: College of Charleston
Stern Center Ballroom
71 George St.
Charleston, SC 29401
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About The Kennedy Forum
Founded in 2013 by former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), The Kennedy Forum focuses on advancing evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and substance use issues. This is achieved through promoting public discourse in health and addiction issues, ensuring equal coverage for patients living with mental health and/or substance use disorders; and advancing prevention and treatment throughout the entire continuum of the healthcare delivery system. The Kennedy Forum’s collaborative partnerships help to foster greater provider accountability, integration and coordination, cutting-edge technologies, and brain fitness and health. The nonprofit organization publishes frequent issue briefs and is a repository of other educational resources on parity issues. To learn more about The Kennedy Forum’s efforts, please visit www.thekennedyforum.org.