Panel answers mental health questions, highlights resources

Pennsylvania College of Technology recently joined the National Alliance on Mental Illness in hosting a panel discussion for students and employees on suicide prevention and mental health.

The event was part of a weeklong suicide prevention awareness campaign at the college known as “Yellow It Out.”

“This was a gathering through a combined effort of Penn College and NAMI to bring community and college experts together for a larger discussion of the many aspects of serving individuals with mental health issues,” explained Mary R. Shuma Rudberg, director of counseling at Penn College. “The panel provided keen insight into what mental health and mental illness look like and how to seek help and understanding.”

In addition to Shuma Rudberg, panelists were Kelly Gordon, Child and Adolescent Service System Program coordinator for Lycoming County and executive board president of NAMI North Central Pennsylvania; Tami J. Delinski, director of total rewards and employee assistance program representative for Penn College; Chuck Kiessling, Lycoming County coroner; and local mental health providers Ivy Eldred, Stephanie Rushton and Brian Schurr.

The group addressed topics of mental health vs. mental illness, warning signs, suicide prevention, how to engage someone who needs help, self-care, levels of care within mental health, and how the community comes together to support mental health. Kiessling provided local statistics, and Delinski shared information about the college’s employee assistance program.

In addition, the event served to provide information on the numerous resources that students, faculty and staff can access through the college and in the community. Staffing information tables were Community Services Group, the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Commission, the Center for Community Resources, Lycoming/Clinton Joinder, and the Penn College Office of Student Engagement.

“Mental illness is treatable,” Gordon told the audience. “It can be managed.”

The panel discussion and the events associated with Yellow It Out Week are activities supported by a Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant, funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Penn College departments partnering with NAMI to present the panel discussion were Counseling Services, People and Culture, and the Office of Student Engagement.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.