Forum Tackles Stigma Of ‘Mental Health Matters’

CHATHAM – "Mental Health Matters," a conversation on mental health being hosted at the Chatham Orpheum on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 pm, hits close to home for Chatham photographer and documentarian Kim Roderiques. 

 When her father died more than a decade ago, Roderiques was devastated. 

"It was so debilitating," she recalled, adding that it took years of counseling to deal with the depression and anxiety that accompanied that loss. And the stigma that came with seeking help was very real. "They told me I could slip out of the back of the office if I didn't want to be seen," she recalled.

 Organized as a fundraiser for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Cape Cod, and moderated by neuroscientist and author Lisa Genova, the event is designed to spark important conversations about reducing the stigma surrounding mental health challenges.

 The keynote speaker for "Mental Health Matters" will be Brian Beneduce, owner of Bodystrong Fitness in Chatham. Beneduce has experienced the world of agoraphobia, the fear of leaving your safe space, firsthand. He has written two books, “Anxiety Warrior” and “Scared to Death: Do it Anyway.” In the books, Beneduce chronicles his roller-coaster journey battling the debilitating effects of his years-long struggle with anxiety and panic disorder related to agoraphobia.

 In addition to Beneduce’s talk, Genova will moderate a panel discussion of community leaders who will share their knowledge and experiences with mental health issues. Special focus will be on reducing the stigma surrounding mental health challenges by empowering individuals to prioritize their mental well-being.

 According to event organizer Roderiques, the 90-minute program "is for anyone interested in learning more about mental health and how to connect with the community, how to support a loved one, and how to contribute to a more supportive community."

 Panel members will include Stephanie Briody, co-founder of Behavioral Health Innovators; attorney Bruce Bierhans; Retired Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson; Jackie Lane, executive director of NAMI Cape Cod; and Diane Nash, Chatham Adult Behavioral Community Services Clinician. Bodystrong Fitness is the presenting sponsor of the event. 

 Nearly one in three individuals will experience anxiety, depression and other mental illness in their lifetimes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Roderiques feels passionate about this work and credits Kevin Lynch, the CEO of the Quell Foundation, for his singlehanded work in helping to lift the stigma around seeking help for mental health. Because of her personal experience, she has long wanted to do something to help.

 "For me, being able to assemble a group of people who understand the depths of mental health in myriad ways, while sharing their knowledge and personal experiences, is my way of helping others know that they are not alone," she wrote recently.

 This one-time event benefits NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI provides support, outreach, education and advocacy to individuals living with mental illness, their families and the broader community. Tickets are $30 per person.

 For more information and to purchase tickets, go to chathamorpheum.org/upcoming-events. Information on NAMI Cape Cod is available at namicapecod.org.