Scott Stossel, Editor, The Atlantic
Scott’s willingness to share his story and stand up against discrimination surrounding mental health in our world today is an inspiration.
McLean, Va. (PRWEB) July 01, 2015
The Recovery Workforce Summit: 2015 PRA Annual Conference, presented by PRA and PRF in partnership with PAPRS, welcomed Scott Stossel, editor of The Atlantic, as a keynote on June 2nd in Philadelphia, PA. Stossel led a timely keynote address about his personal experience combatting anxiety, and how telling his personal story added power and reach to the essential message, while opening doors to wellness and recovery. Stossel was also presented with PRA’s Board of Director’s Award, which recognizes the work done by an individual to combat the prejudice and discrimination towards mental health that exists in our communities and in society.
“Scott’s experience with anxiety and the daily steps he takes to cope illustrates the resiliency of people who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition, and the continued need to develop and sustain recovery-oriented mental health and wellness services,” said Dori Hutchinson, ScD, CPRP, PRA Board Chair. “Scott’s willingness to share his story and stand up against discrimination surrounding mental health in our world today is an inspiration.”
Stossel is also the author of the New York Times bestseller My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread and the Search for Peace of Mind, which won the 2014 Erikson Award for writing on mental health and the 2014 Voices of Mental Health Award from the Jed Foundation; and Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver. His essays and articles have appeared in The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The New Republic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Daily Beast, The American Prospect, and many other publications.
Stossel’s keynote at the Recovery Workforce Summit highlighted his own long-standing battle with anxiety, the various methods he utilized to combat the disorder, and how he lives with anxiety every day. Stossel called attention to the fact that a staggering number of Americans experience similar panic and apprehension; about 40 million people in the United States suffer from anxiety at any given time, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
“The most common response I’ve received from the book is that my story gives anxiety credibility, and a lot of people recognize their own experience in my own and made them feel less alone,” stated Stossel. “People said they feel more inspired because I manage to leave a productive, functional life despite my anxiety.”
The Recovery Workforce Summit: 2015 Annual Conference is the key training, education and networking event for the entire psychiatric rehabilitation workforce; including agency executives, educators and researchers, practitioners and peer support providers. PRA is the premier source of learning, knowledge and research for the psychiatric rehabilitation profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the recovery workforce. Visit PRA’s website for more information and to access resources.
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About the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA): As the nonprofit organization focused on growing and training the recovery workforce, the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, is the preeminent association for the development, support, and dissemination of information about the practice of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery. PRA believes that the practice of psychiatric rehabilitation leads to recovery, and thus is committed to the growth of psychiatric rehabilitation in both quantity and quality, and to the universal availability of state-of-the-art psychiatric rehabilitation services for all individuals with mental illness who seek such services. For more information, visit http://www.psychrehabassociation.org.
About the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Foundation (PRF): The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Foundation accelerates the growth and training of the recovery workforce while expanding wellness and recovery. The Foundation supports and promotes training and education by hosting the Recovery Workforce Summit and delivering courses through the Academy of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery. The Foundation supports current and evolving programs and activities including research, grants, and public outreach.
About the Pennsylvania Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PAPRS): PAPRS is a growing association of more than 300 psychiatric rehabilitation practitioners and organizations throughout Pennsylvania, working together to promote and support the philosophy, values, and practices of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. In order to foster the continued growth of quality Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery focused practices, PAPRS offers innovative trainings, technical assistance, and leadership to support practitioners, providers and other stakeholder groups in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit https://www.paprs.org/eweb/startpage.aspx.