Wilkes University’s College of Health and Education will host a Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum free of charge from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Adams Commons on the second floor of the Henry Student Center. The forum is designed for faculty, counselors, nurses and staff who work with Pre-K to 12 students in local schools. Attendees will be eligible for Act 48 continuing education credits for educators or continuing education credits from the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association.

The two-hour presentation will explore distinctions between mental wellness and mental illness. It will also focus on themes of safety, social-emotional learning, empowerment and advocacy to support a broader look at institutional and community integration of trauma-informed principles. The initiative aims to serve the needs of area school stakeholders so that they can better nurture students to make positive contributions to our community.

The panel for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum includes Nicole Hummer, school counselor for the Hanover Area School District, and Wilkes University faculty Todd Hastings, assistant professor of undergraduate nursing; Vicki Jones, assistant professor of master’s education; Dana Manning, associate professor of pharmacy practice; Andrea Mantione, assistant professor of undergraduate nursing; and Lori Cooper, associate professor of doctoral education.

For more information or forum registration, visit wilkes.edu/mhforum.