NARSAD: News & Events: For the Media: Press Release

For the Media
- Expert Sources

- Recent Press Releases

- NARSAD News Kit
- Research &
Giving News

» Events
- Galas & Scientific
Symposia
- Parlor Meetings &
Seminars
- Community
Fundraisers

» Publications
- Research Newsletter
- Brochures & Fact
Sheets on
Mental Illness
- Annual Report

» Streaming Videos
- Healthy Minds

Press Release

Contact:

Mike Vizvary
(941) 724-5463

For immediate release

NARSAD Florida Mental Illness Research Symposium
Jan. 12 at Van Wezel in Sarasota Free, Open to Public

(SARASOTA, Florida- ) — Three distinguished scientists investigating the causes and treatments of mental illness and brain disorders will present their latest research findings Saturday, Jan. 12, at the NARSAD Florida 2008 Research Symposium at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in downtown Sarasota.

The symposium, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., is free and open to the public. Family and friends of people with mental illness are encouraged to attend. Health care professionals can earn continuing education units by attending.

Symposium Presenters

Herbert Meltzer, M.D., the symposium moderator, is a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. He will discuss "New Research on Effectiveness and Cardiovascular/Metabolic Safety of Antipsychotic Drugs for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder�
David Shern, Ph.D., M.H.A., the chief executive officer of the Mental Health Association, has titled his presentation "Recognizing a Competent Service System: What Does the Science Say?"
James F. Leckman, M.D. is the Neison Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics at Yale University, where he also serves as the director of research for the Yale Child Study Center. His presentation is titled "Primary Parental Preoccupations
- Revisited: Genes, Circuits and the Crucial Role of Early Experience."

Information booths and exhibits by local community mental health care providers and NARSAD will be open throughout the symposium in the Van Wezel Grand Foyer.

Physicians, licensed mental health counselors, licensed clinical social workers, nurses and clinical pharmacists can earn three CEUs/Contact Hours for a $20 fee. To register for CEUs or for more information, call Sarasota Memorial Hospital�s HealthLine at (941) 917-7777, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Founded by Lee and Bob Peterson, NARSAD Florida has raised almost $4 million for mental health research since 1998. NARSAD Florida is part of the national organization � NARSAD: The world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research. Since 1987, NARSAD has awarded over $219 million in 3,238 research grants to 2,502 scientists based at 418 universities, medical centers and research institutions throughout the United States and in 26 other countries.

The sponsors of NARSAD 2008 are: Northern Trust, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, Scene Magazine, Manatee Memorial Hospital & Health System. The symposium precedes NARSAD Florida�s 11th Annual NARSAD Sunshine from Darkness Gala black-tie fundraiser, Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

For more information about NARSAD 2008 events, call (941) 308-MIND (308-6463) or visit www.narsadflorida.org.

Media Contact

Kristen Simone
516-829-0091, ext. 236

Upcoming NARSAD Events

October 17, 2008
21st Annual Gala
New York

October 17, 2008
20th Annual Mental Health Symposium
New York

November 8 & 9, 2008
California NARSAD Silver Ribbon Symposium & Gala