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Panel Discussion for Mental Health Month

May 07, 2021

Wyomissing, PA — The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks in partnership with Exeter Community Library announce a special panel discussion on mental health as the next author in the second season of Literatour Berks, a community-wide celebration with 30 events featuring authors, celebrities, and cultural influencers throughout Berks County. The public is invited to a virtual discussion on suicide and mental health with The Blue Dove foundation on Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

The Blue Dove Foundation was created to help address the issues of mental illness and addiction in the Jewish community and beyond. Based in Atlanta, the foundation works with people and organizations across the United States and around the world. Recognizing the importance of collaboration when it comes to solving this community problem, The Blue Dove Foundation accomplishes its work through program, promotional, and support partnerships. This special panel is held in conjunction with Mental Health Month which occurs in May.

#QuietingTheSilence: Personal Stories offers a chance for people to share stories and perspectives related to their own life-changing experiences involving mental illness and addiction. Through these personal stories of struggles and loss, The Blue Dove Foundation hopes to show individuals they are not alone and to work toward eliminating the shame and stigma many feel around these topics.

Sheri Panovka has been writing about mental health and addiction in the Jewish community for much of the past decade, first with Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta and currently with the Blue Dove Foundation. She edited #QuietingTheSilence: Personal Stories and wrote many of the chapters in the book.

Jennifer Greenberg serves on the Board of Directors for the Blue Dove Foundation and is a contributing author to #QuietingTheSilence.

This important panel conversation will focus on real stories of mental health struggles and suicide as well as the stigmas associated with mental illness and will be moderated by Rabbi Yosef Lipsker, a consultant for Caron since 2000. The panel also includes Dr. Paul Delfin, Licensed Psychologist. Registration for this free virtual event can be found at https://readingjewishcommunity.org/home/literatour

Literatour Berks is a community program that will bring 30 authors in exciting programs from September 2020 to June 2021 to Berks County, virtually and in-person. The program is presented by Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks in partnership with Exeter Community Library and Sinking Spring Public Library. A complete list of authors and topics can be found at www.readingjewishcommunity.org/home/literatour Additional support in the form of community patrons is acknowledged and appreciated.

 

The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks is the planning, coordinating and fundraising arm of the Jewish community. The Federation raises and allocates funds along with the Jewish Federations of North America and collective efforts in support of many vital local, national, and international Jewish organizations.

Exeter Community Library is a member of the Berks County Public Libraries.

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