Rogers Behavioral Health celebrates Boys & Men of Color Month with October 25 Facebook Live event

Posted on 10/20/21 06:15:pm

Hear stories about mental illness, fitness with NFL player Solomon Thomas, “Pieces: In My Own Voice” vignettes

OCONOMOWOC, WIS. (October 21, 2021) — Rogers Behavioral Health is co-sponsoring a Facebook Live on Monday, October 25 from 6-7 pm to celebrate Boys & Men of Color Month. Free and open to the public, the event will feature Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Solomon Thomas who will share his story of loss to mental illness, recount his recovery journey, and answer questions from viewers.

Earlier this year, Thomas launched The Defensive Line Foundation in honor of his sister who died by suicide. The organization is dedicated to ending the epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color, by transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental health.

Additionally, the event will include powerful vignettes from Pieces: In My Own Voice, a play written by Milwaukee native Brenda Wesley. Performed by local actors, the scenes will explore PTSD, schizophrenia, and suicide.

“Boys and men of color face many challenges in accessing mental healthcare, including socioeconomic disparities, stigma, and inequality of care,” said Sue McKenzie Dicks, vice president, Healthy Culture at Rogers. “Events like this Facebook Live are so important because sharing personal stories of lived experience reduces stigma, connects people within and across communities, and provides support and hope for those who are struggling.”

The event will be hosted by Montrèal Cain, founder of MERA Mental Health Preventive Care & Crisis Intervention. Additional co-sponsors are Safe & Sound and MIRACLE.

To watch the Facebook Live, visit facebook.com/rogers.behavioral.health. A recording will be posted to Facebook following the event, and it will be made available to schools and community organizations. Institutions interested in showing the recording may contact Kathryn.Zapfel@rogersbh.org for more information.

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Rogers Behavioral Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit provider of mental health and addiction services. Rogers offers evidence-based treatment for adults, children, and adolescents with depression and other mood disorders, eating disorders, addiction, OCD and anxiety disorders, trauma, and PTSD. In addition to a growing network of regional locations in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington, Rogers operates three inpatient behavioral health hospitals, 15 residential programs, and eight outpatient centers in Wisconsin. The System also includes Rogers InHealth to reduce mental health stigma, as well as Ladish Co. Foundation Center, home to Rogers Research Center, the Rogers Foundation, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room®. Learn more at rogersbh.org.