Mental Health Literacy: How Social Workers Can Help
Presenter: Rebecca Bonanno, PhD, LCSW
NASW-NYS Members: $10
NASW Other Chapter Member: $15
Non-Members: $20
This workshop is approved for 1.0 continuing education credit hour(s) for licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed marriage and family therapists
Workshop Description
Mental health literacy (MHL) includes a person’s knowledge of the signs and symptoms of disorders, an ability to find accurate information about and help for mental health disorders, and attitudes that are non-stigmatizing and promote help-seeking. Social workers have long been on the forefront of promoting MHL through psychoeducation in clinical settings, education in the community, and advocacy for fair and effectiveness mental health policies. However, given increasing rates of mental health problems in the US, widespread stigma against those with mental health diagnoses, and a health care system in which treatment is difficult to obtain, even more can be done. This webinar will provide participants with an overview of the latest knowledge on MHL, explain the need for improved MHL, and suggest micro, mezzo, and macro interventions that social workers can use to increase MHL.
Learning Objectives
After the completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Define mental health literacy;
- Explain the need for improved mental health literacy in our communities;
- Describe innovative interventions to increase mental health literacy;
- Identify micro, mezzo, and macro interventions that they can engage in to improve MHL.
This workshop is approved for 1.0 continuing education credit hour(s).
NASW-NYS is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (Provider ID #0014), licensed mental health counselors (Provider ID #MHC-0053), and licensed marriage and family therapists. (Provider ID #MFT-0037).
Rebecca Bonanno, PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Services at SUNY Empire State College and is in private practice in Huntington, NY. Dr. Bonanno earned her MSW and PhD at Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare and a post-Master’s certificate in Child and Family Therapy from NYU’s Silver School of Social Work. Her practice and research interests include child mental health, parental mental health literacy, and school safety.