Panel of Behavioral Health Experts Headlines SalusCare Luncheon

FORT MYERS, FLA., March 12, 2019 – A panel of behavioral health experts will explore the impact of cultural beliefs and practices on mental health and substance abuse treatment at the Third Annual “Shattering the Stigma” luncheon on Monday, May 20.
The luncheon is hosted and presented by SalusCare, the region’s leading provider of behavioral healthcare, in honor of Mental Health Month.
The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with registration open at 11 a.m. at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Boulevard.
“Much of one’s access to self-acceptance, communication and treatment of a mental illness or addiction is influenced by their ethnic, familial or social beliefs. In order to help and give access, we must understand the different challenges we all are facing,” said event chair Jane Lane, who also is vice-chair of the SalusCare Board of Directors.
The panel will be moderated by Madelyn Isaacs, Ph.D., professor of counseling and department chair at Florida Gulf Coast University.  Isaacs co-founded the Public Schools Enrichment Partnership and is the secretary of the SalusCare Board of Directors.
Panelists are:

• April Brown (M.S., Ed.D., LMHC) – counselor at Genesis Counseling and president of the Gulf Coast Mental Health Counselor’s Association. Her client focus is on African-American and other ethnic backgrounds, as well as alternative lifestyles counseling.
• Indera (Singh) Demine – immigration law attorney.  Born and raised in Guyana and immigrating to the U.S. as a young adult, she is uniquely familiar with the plight of immigrants, both legally and socially.
• Yaro Garcia (Ph.D.) – Currently the clinical and accreditation coordinator of counseling at Florida Gulf Coast University, she also is the president of the SWFL Regional Human Trafficking Coalition. She is a creator of the SOAR (Stop. Observe. Act and Respond) training program to help medical providers better recognize victims of human trafficking and potential traffickers.
• Ana Leticia (Leti) Lopes (Psy.D.) – A multilingual licensed psychologist, she specializes in adolescent difficulties, special needs children, relationship issues and multi-cultural issues.  She is committed to focusing her work with each individual with an appreciation of their background and unique set of experiences to help them attain the highest quality of life.

Tickets are $40 with lunch and $50 with CEUs for mental health professionals and may be purchased by calling Todd Cordisco at (239) 791-1575.
About SalusCare, Inc.
SalusCare, Inc., is the largest, most comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program in Southwest Florida, serving nearly 16,000 people per year of all ages from seven locations in Lee County.   The non-profit organization offers crisis stabilization, detox, outpatient, residential treatment, community-based services and an Employee Assistance Program for more than 50 area companies. The majority of programs are accredited by CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
SalusCare services are not free.  Fees are charged on a sliding scale, based on family income.  In many cases, private insurance is accepted.  SalusCare is a United Way partner agency.