DANBURY, CONN. — By bringing together the voices and ideas of innovators and educators, community members and caregivers, the “Compassionate Strategies for Mental Wellness” conference at Western Connecticut State University will find and help others discover a path toward mental wellness.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, in Warner Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury, the WCSU Center for Compassion, Creativity & Innovation will hold its annual conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Pre-registration is encouraged and there is a $20 registration fee that includes lunch and all workshops; Students are free. To register, visit www.wcsu.edu/compassioncreativity/conference.

The event will include panel discussions led by mental health experts, lectures and workshops. Keynote speaker Nancy Von Euler, program director of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and staff liaison to the Bridgeport Public Housing Residents’ Support Fund, will begin the conference by sharing her insights and experiences in working to develop relationships between public, nonprofit and government sectors.

“Our mission is to provide meaningful ways to address issues of mental wellness and illness through practical means,” said Dr. Chris Kukk, WCSU professor of political science and director of the WCSU Center for Compassion, Creativity & Innovation. “Everyone can walk away with strategies to address issues such as how to increase social-emotional learning in educational settings and how community organizations can network together to address and resolve incidents in their communities related to mental illness in a comprehensive and holistic fashion.”

Those attending the conference will be invited to choose three workshops or discussions in which to participate for each of three sessions. Each session will offer a range of options and some of the offerings include a panel discussion on “Effective Collaborative Strategies for Strengthening the Safety Net;” a lecture on “Infusing Health, Happiness and Compassion into Living and Learning” by Dr. Maria Hersey, U.S. director of education & training for The Hawn Foundation (THF) and their MindUP™ program; a Reiki session; a talk on “Dimensions of Wellness Mandala;” and a panel discussion on “Serving Veterans Suffering with PTSD and TBI,” led in part by the Danbury Veterans Center and the Veterans Affairs Danbury Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

The day will conclude with a networking session.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486 or visit www.wcsu.edu/compassioncreativity/conference.