Let's Start Talking About Mental Health Awareness

KSTP Meteorologist, Ken Barlow and Dave Wellstone to Speak in Rogers
 
One in four people experience mental illness during their lifetime.  Dave Wellstone, son of the late Senator Paul Wellstone, and Ken Barlow, KSTP Meteorologist, plan on taking an active role in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness by sharing their personal stories of living with mental health issues.  They will speak on Sunday, April 21 at Word of Peace Lutheran Church at 6:30 pm. Mental Health resources and support will also be available during the April 21 evening. This event is free and open to the public.  For more information contact Dan Hassinger at  dkhass@embarqmail.com  or 952-380-8739 or Mona Trebesch at mmtreb@yahoo.com.
 
Ken Barlow is a meteorologist at KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities. Ken publicly disclosed his battle with bipolar disorder in September of 2012 while hosting the annual National Association of Mental Illness Walk. Barlow has worked in the Twin Cities since 1990 and after a four year stint in Boston, Massachusetts and one year in Sacramento, CA.  Ken has been nationally recognized and awarded Emmy Awards for excellence in his field.
 
Dave Wellstone will speak about his own struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression following the plane crash which killed his father Senator Paul Wellstone, his mother Sheila and his sister Marcia. He is also an author.  His most recent publication is Becoming Wellstone ~ Healing from Tragedy and Carrying on My Father’s Legacy.  Since 2007 he has been a key figure in the Washington D.C. with regards to the recent passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act.   
 
Dave Wellstone and Ken Barlow have joined together to create the Wellstone Barlow Mental Health Initiative. The WBMHI plans on taking an active role in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction by creating public service announcements, attending conventions, and speaking with university students, structured high school organizations, community groups, churches and synagogues as well as business leaders.
 
They have partnered with the Word of Peace Mental Health Task Force to help the task force promote mental health education, resources, advocacy, and inclusiveness through faith based activities both within and outside of the congregation. 
 
Word of Peace Lutheran Church is located at 21705 129^th Avenue North in Rogers, Minnesota. It is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.  For more information about Word of Peace please go to www.wordofpeace.org. For more information about the event contact Dan Hassinger at  dkhass@embarqmail.com or 952-380-8739 or Mona Trebesch at mmtreb@yahoo.com.