Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast invites the community to a powerful World Mental Health Day event, Moving Forward: From Mental Illness to Mental Wellness. This free event will be held on Friday, October 10, from 9:00 AM to noon at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

The morning will feature two compelling voices:
• Dr. Amy Weisman de Mamani, licensed clinical psychologist and University of Miami professor, who has published over 100 manuscripts on how family and cultural factors shape mental illness outcomes.
• Todd Arkyn Crush, ultramarathoner, author, and mental health advocate, shares how his scars from trauma and mental illness have become maps guiding thousands of others in their own journeys to wellness.

Crush’s story is a raw journey through abandonment, neglect, anxiety, hallucinations, PTSD, agoraphobia, schizophrenia, and recovery. In his latest book, with a foreword by Dr. Weisman de Mamani, he explores how running became a transformative tool in managing his mental health and reclaiming his life.

The program promises to inspire attendees to confront the realities of the human condition and the courage to move toward wellness.

Bonus Community Event: Start the day at 5:30 AM with Todd Crush at Rossi Park in Bradenton for a community 6.5-mile walk/run loop. All are welcome.

Licensed clinicians can earn CEUs, but the event is open to everyone. Free admission, RSVP requested: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moving-forward-from-mental-illness-to-wellness-tickets-1369605610249?aff=oddtdtcreator

Livestreaming will also be available for those unable to attend in person.