Mental health professionals, educators, business people, parents, and concerned citizens from around our community heard remarks from Clarity CGC President & CEO Fred Hines, a keynote address from Judge Nelson Wolff, and comments from US Representative Joaquin Castro. A moving video testimonial was also presented. Afterward, a panel of mental health professionals, moderated by NOWCastSA Managing Director Charlotte-Anne Lucas, addressed children’s mental health issues and answered audience questions.

The panelists for the One in Five Minds discussion were Jeannie Von Stultz, Ph.D., Director of Mental Health Services for Bexar County Juvenile Probation; Deborah Healy, Psy.D., Director of Guidance and Counseling for Northside ISD; Steven Pliszka, M.D., Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; and Al Philippus, Vice President of the Corporate Services and Security Division of Valero Energy Corporation and former Chief of Police and 27-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department.

Attendees gathered today to launch a community wide anti-stigma campaign for children’s mental health. They heard how the One in Five Minds campaign is designed to increase the awareness of a deep community need and provide people with the knowledge and tools in which to talk openly about children’s mental illness. Creating a dialogue and community conversation, will help to eliminate the stigma associated with children’s mental health. Stigma creates silence, and silence creates barriers to care.

Several community leaders were recognized too, as they stepped forward to become advocates for children’s mental illness. They have agreed to start the dialogue in the community by tweeting, posting on Facebook, emailing and sharing the message of One in Five Minds with their friends, family, colleagues, and partners.