photo by: Contributed

Community members attend a past panel at the Community Health Facility at 200 Maine St.

Community members next week are invited to a panel discussion hosted by the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center about equity, access and representation in neurodivergent mental health conditions, such as autism, dyslexia, attention-deficit disorder and others.

The event, “Nash Cares: Mental Health & Neurodivergence,” will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine St., in the second floor meeting rooms. Robyn Wagner, health and workplace equity manager at Bert Nash, said in a release from Bert Nash that the Nash Cares Community Education Series is designed to shine a light on historically underserved and underrepresented communities within the field of mental health.

“One area I believe is especially important–yet often overlooked–is mental health and neurodiversity. We have such a strong panel comprised of experts and those with lived experience that I think will create a really meaningful and impactful conversation,” Wagner said in the release.

There will be several panelists, including Lauren Bruno, an assistant research professor at the Kansas University Center on Disabilities; Benjamin Edwards, an assistant researcher at the Kansas University Center on Disabilities; Lynette Goldizen, Community Developmental Disability Organization eligibility & referral manager at Cottonwood Inc.; Claire Laberge, Treatment & Recovery Center behavioral health specialist; and Dr. Erin Yosai, director of clinical training at Outcomes, Assessment Services, & Intervention Supports at the University of Kansas.

Doors to the event open at 5 p.m. and light refreshments will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, visit the Bert Nash website.