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Veterans Mental Health Symposium Set For Sept. 6

By  //  August 4, 2013

22 veterans commit suicide every day

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ABOVE MAP:  DoubleTree by Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hotel is hosting the Excellence in Clinical Practice Symposium located at  2080 N Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 22 veterans in the United States commit suicide every day, and hundreds of thousands more veterans are returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq.

(Shutterstock image)
“At a time when the suicide rate for veterans significantly outnumbers combat-related deaths, mental health professionals must be more prepared than even to better serve veterans,” said Dr. Lori Parsons, FCC’s president, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology. (Shutterstock image)

Family Counseling Center of Brevard is organizing its first Excellence in Clinical Practice Symposium on Sept.6, “The Warrior’s World: Understanding the Mental Health Needs of Veterans.”

“At a time when the suicide rate for veterans significantly outnumbers combat-related deaths, mental health professionals must be more prepared than even to better serve veterans,” said Dr. Lori Parsons, FCC’s president, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology.

Keynote speaker will be Melbourne psychologist Dr. Scott Fairchild, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who also holds a doctorate in psychology. He specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder and was founder of the not-for-profit Welcome Home Vets Inc. that focused on returning veterans.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

A discount registration fee of $95 is available through Aug. 9. Registrations of $110 will be accepted through Aug. 31. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

Free assistance and services for veterans and their dependents or survivors is available at the Veterans Service Office at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island . (Shutterstock image)
Free assistance and services for veterans and their dependents or survivors is available at the Veterans Service Office at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island . (Shutterstock image)

Co-sponsors 2-1-1 Brevard and Florida Institute of Technology will provide continuing education credits for psychologists, therapists, counselor, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Partner DoubleTree by Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hotel is providing the location, while commu­nity partner Space Coast Mental Health Counselors Association will present an award for service to mental health needs of veterans.

The day will include multiple breakout sessions on working with veterans and their families and a question and answer panel with veterans of different war eras.

To register call 321-632-5792