CASPER, Wyo. — Following successful events the past two years, Gov. Mark Gordon is hosting the third Governor’s Mental Health Summit in Casper on Wednesday Oct. 2. The day-long summit will be held at the M, located at 234 E. 1st St.
The free, in-person event will feature discussions and workshops focusing on mental health awareness and support, a news release states. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the welcoming address is at 9 a.m.
The full agenda is available here. The 9:05 program focuses on the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences and how it informs successful community approaches to mental health.
The 12:30 discussion frames suicide as a social issue: “Attendees will learn how to
empower those in distress and avoid the pitfalls that have prevented us from consistently
reducing suicides over the past few decades,” the program said.
At 2 p.m. Gordon, Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Kate Fox, and legislators will discuss the issue as seen by the judicial branch and policymakers.
The keynote address at 4 p.m. is by a mother whose child was affected by addiction, and who will share key ways to look at life, situations, and problems in a new way, according to the program.
“Since the first mental health summit, we have made progress in raising awareness of this issue and how mental health challenges impact our communities,” Gordon said in a previous announcement. “We know that we have more work to do, and this summit provides an opportunity to come together and share the important work that’s taking place.”
The governor’s WY We Care initiative, announced earlier this year, is a collaborative effort that includes all three branches of state government, local community teams and private-sector providers. The initiative aims to reduce Wyoming’s suicide rate, improve access to behavioral health services and strengthen the state’s behavioral healthcare workforce.
With support from the Hughes Charitable Foundation and Align, the Fall 2024 Governor’s Mental Health Summit begins at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 2 at Events at the M, 234 E. 1st St. in Casper.
Free tickets are limited and are available here.
