JUNEAU — NAMI Juneau’s speaker series, Inside Passages, will take place on Nov. 8 at 5:15 p.m. These monthly forums provide an opportunity for the public to explore issues connected to mental wellness and illness that impact us, our families and community. November’s forum will feature Andrew Archer, MSW, LCSW on “Manic Depression in America.”
In this presentation, Archer will explore how the stresses of modern life may contribute to the rise in mood disorders in the United States. Mania and depression are influenced by both our physiology and contemporary changes in our culture, presenting us with a fuller picture of ourselves and mental illness.
Archer offers a unique perspective by sharing his insights as a clinician, academic and person experiencing a mood disorder.
Archer is a mindfulness-based practitioner who integrates Zen Buddhism and Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) as clinical interventions to unearth root causes of psychopathology. Archer is the author of the 2013 memoir, Pleading Insanity, which details a genuine portrait of his own dramatic devastations through mania and depression as well as tools to manage symptoms. Archer is an associate instructor for University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Inside Passages takes place at Bartlett Regional Hospital on the second floor of the Administration Building. Refreshments and light snacks will be offered. These forums are free and open to the entire community. Continuing education units through Alaska’s Board of Social Work Examiners will be available to professionals.
To learn more, visit namijuneau.org or call 463-4251.
