AchieveHERs hosts luncheon focused on mental health

AchieveHERs hosts Dunedin luncheon focused on caregiving, mental health

By Melissa Eichman Pinellas County

PUBLISHED 6:31 PM ET Jun. 21, 2018 PUBLISHED June 21, 2018 @6:31 PM

Almost 200 women gathered for a luncheon at Bon Appetit in Dunedin Thursday, and while the view at the locale was beautiful, the topics driving the luncheon's conversation were serious.

Presentation titled "Secrets We Don't Share"
Touched on suicide prevention, domestic violence, depression
AchieveHERs part of Clearwater Regional Chamber

“Secrets We Don’t Share” was the day’s AchieveHers Women Sharing Wisdom presentation.

"Today we’re hoping that our friends will rally together to hear how to listen to hear the questions, to see what to look for when you think maybe you have a friend, a co-worker a sister who is hurting, who is in pain," said Amy Maguire, moderator for the event.

Luncheon participants and guests expressed a readiness to start these conversations about such difficult subjects as suicide, domestic violence and depression in the community and raise awareness.

Experts were part of a panel to help get that conversation going.

Directions for Living President and CEO April Lott says suicide is 100 percent preventable and suggests looking for changes in people’s behavior.

"I think that people don’t ask enough questions, like: Can I help? Is everything OK? Is there anything you want to talk about? Just so you know I’m here for you, if you want to come back, I’m here,” suggested Lott. “That we’re saying those kinds of things to people."

Kristi Pettit, one of the founders of AchieveHERs, had her own secret for years and wants to help raise awareness.

"My domestic violence happened back in '04. I didn't give my testimony publicly until our founders event. which was six years ago," said Pettit.

Pettit wants to use her own past experience and new knowledge from the panelists to benefit her workplace and employees at Clearwater Gas.

"So, I think that if we open up more and just keep the lines of communication open we can share more with each other,” said Pettit, Gas Sales & Public Affairs Manager for Clearwater Gas. “But you also to have to respect their boundaries and know that it is a workplace setting and keep it professional but know that your door is always open."

Experts hope people learned the importance of keeping an open line of communication about conversations that can be difficult to have, ones that don’t have to be kept secret.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Substance Abuse

Alcoholics Anonymous

Tel. 727-530-0415

www.aapinellas.org

Al-Anon Family Groups

Tel: 1-888-425-2666

https://al-anon.org/

Operation PAR

24 hour helpline 1-888-727-6398

Adult Intake Outpatient

727-545-7564 (various locations throughout county)