Ways To Wellness: A Panel Discussion On Mental Health
Reported by: Anahid Ugurlayan, Esq
On Sunday, January 22, over 50 parishioners and guests gathered at St. Sarkis for a panel discussion on mental health. Anahid Ugurlayan welcomed all in attendance and explained the importance of this lecture in light of long-standing resistance in the Armenian community to discussing, or even acknowledging the existence of, mental health and mental illness. She also stressed that St. Sarkis was fortunate to have a pastor who is a licensed mental health counselor and a valuable resource to those who are ashamed or fearful of discussing their mental health concerns with family or friends. She then introduced the speakers: Dr. Hagop Gorgissian, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, St. George University who also has a private practice in Queens; Dr. Yeraz Meschian, is a licensed clinical psychologist, Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as well as a research scientist at Mount Sinai, and the founder and executive director of Healthy Mind NY, where she provides individual and group therapy, family counseling and parenting skills; and Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian, a geriatric psychiatrist who has a private practice throughout Westchester and in New York City and was a Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at the Cornell University Medical Center.
Dr. Gorgissian discussed the myths and stigmas relating to mental health and mental illness, specifically that those who suffer from mental illness cannot function in a professional or non-professional capacity, the fear of seeking professional help, as well as the importance of mental health in one’s overall well-being. Dr. Meschian explained that mental illness is often associated with psychopaths and criminals in movies but that in reality, very few people who suffer from mental illness pose a threat to themselves or others, noting that many celebrities and people we encounter in our daily lives suffer from mental illness. She gave a primer on what is entailed in talk therapy, expounding on her practice, which focuses on talk therapy, and how she assesses her patients. Dr. Bayrakdarian’s presentation focused on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, its prevalence in the general population and ways to minimize the effects of it, from a focus on cardiovascular health and mental stimulation.
A lengthy Q&A followed the panel presentations and the audience remained long after the discussion to ask more questions. There are a few key takeaways from the panel discussion: 1) mental health is inextricably linked to one’s overall well-being; and 2) mental illness is real and that those suffering from it should not continue suffering in silence – rather, they must reach out to anyone they trust as a first step to ultimately being treated by a psychologist and/or a psychiatrist. Those in attendance appreciated the open and frank discussion of a long-neglected but important topic. Many thanks to Der Nareg for his open mindedness and efforts and to our expert panel of speaker for taking time from their busy schedules to participate in this program.
Dr. Gorgissian discussed the myths and stigmas relating to mental health and mental illness, specifically that those who suffer from mental illness cannot function in a professional or non-professional capacity, the fear of seeking professional help, as well as the importance of mental health in one’s overall well-being. Dr. Meschian explained that mental illness is often associated with psychopaths and criminals in movies but that in reality, very few people who suffer from mental illness pose a threat to themselves or others, noting that many celebrities and people we encounter in our daily lives suffer from mental illness. She gave a primer on what is entailed in talk therapy, expounding on her practice, which focuses on talk therapy, and how she assesses her patients. Dr. Bayrakdarian’s presentation focused on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, its prevalence in the general population and ways to minimize the effects of it, from a focus on cardiovascular health and mental stimulation.
A lengthy Q&A followed the panel presentations and the audience remained long after the discussion to ask more questions. There are a few key takeaways from the panel discussion: 1) mental health is inextricably linked to one’s overall well-being; and 2) mental illness is real and that those suffering from it should not continue suffering in silence – rather, they must reach out to anyone they trust as a first step to ultimately being treated by a psychologist and/or a psychiatrist. Those in attendance appreciated the open and frank discussion of a long-neglected but important topic. Many thanks to Der Nareg for his open mindedness and efforts and to our expert panel of speaker for taking time from their busy schedules to participate in this program.