Saint Peter’s College Hosts Discussion On Mental Illness

Jersey City, NJ — Dr. Kenneth Byalin, Founder and President of the Verrazano Foundation, will speak at Saint Peter’s College on Tuesday, November 25 at12:30 p.m. in Pope Lecture Hall. He will discuss the Foundation’s efforts to help reduce the stigma those with mental illness, and their families, face in society. The event is free and open to the public. Dr. Byalin will show a half-hour film entitled Scripts to Recovery which explores the journeys of people recovering from mental illness as they work together to translate their life experiences into a movie script. Several people who appear in the film will join Dr. Byalin to discuss their experience. “Persons with mental illness are among the most stigmatized, most shunned, most discriminated against of Americans,” Dr. Byalin said. “The Recovery Movement which is in its infancy is not just a struggle for better care; it is a struggle for civil rights. In Scripts to Recovery, people living with mental illness begin to tell their stories. These stories need to be heard.” Dr. Byalin, who started the Verrazano Foundation in 2002, has been involved in professional social work for more than 30 years. He played a leadership role in the development of the Brookdale Community Mental Health Center, one of the first in New York City to receive federal funding. He also helped the South Beach Psychiatric Center gain recognition as one of New York State’s most successful public facilities. He has maintained a private psychotherapy practice in Brooklyn and Staten Island for more than 20 years. The event is sponsored by the College’s Social Justice Program and the Psychology Club. For more information, contact Dr. Anna Brown at 201-915-4963. Saint Peter’s College is the Jesuit College of New Jersey. Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The main campus is located in Jersey City and a branch campus, specializing in adult education, is located in Englewood Cliffs. Saint Peter’s also offers classes in downtown Jersey City near the waterfront financial district and in South Amboy. -SPC-