Demystify and Destigmatize Addiction
After successfully organizing two mental health events. The first one was a webinar on the topic that focused on discussing anxiety and depression such as Pre-Menstrual Depression or natural remedies for anxiety treatment which was held in July 2020. The second mental health event was a webinar was titled “Mending our thoughts” which was held in November 2020, it focused on raising awareness and destigmatizing mental illnesses that cause distress to today’s youth and affect mental health.
Due to the success and demand of the previous webinars, JAOR held a third mental health event webinar on November 2021. The webinar aimed to demystify and destigmatize addiction within our society. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. To shed more light on the topic, we were graced by a clinical psychologist called Krishna Rawal that has specialized in chemical dependency and harm reduction.
With over 35 attendees, the speaker was able to demystify and destigmatize addiction through the following talking points
- Signs and symptoms of addiction and mental health decline.
- Destigmatizing addiction
- Treatment options and how to support one in recovery.
- Helpful resources.
With the increasing rates of mental health issues among the youth, events like this are paramount. The organization is very passionate about mental health and intends to hold many more events on the topic.