"That's Personal…": An invisible topic – the stigma of Mental Health today.
A public health concern regarding mental health re-emerged during and continued after the 2020 Covid Pandemic for all ages – early childhood to the elderly. Many individuals find it difficult to openly discuss what might be considered a personal topic fearing being judged or ostracized. This session will be an opportunity to gain some understanding why the stigma of mental health continues to prevent individuals from seeking professional and/or medical support to address unexplained emotions that interfere with daily activities.
Annette Franklin, Ph.D., is presently a Lecturer/Field Coordinator at State University of New York Fredonia and has been a social worker for 23 years working in various practice settings (micro, mezzo and macro). Dr. Franklin received her BSW from Gannon University, MSW from the University of Pittsburgh and PhD from SUNY Buffalo. She has a certificate in Teaching and Leading in Diversity and in Gerontology. Prior research agenda has focused on the historical recruiting efforts for African American teachers; particularly interests in the issues of teacher recruiting efforts in urban schools. A licensed social worker in Pennsylvania, Dr. Franklin has had a long-standing interest in schools of social work and education collaborating on issues of social justice in urban schools. Most recently, her focus has been on older adults, particularly minority females.
