The Advocate is collaborating with Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties and Mental Health America of Licking County to host a short information session about a new Mental Health First Aid program.

The free daylong training is open to individuals, local businesses and organizations who want to better understand how to recognize and assist people experiencing symptoms of mental illnesses. The Oct. 29 information session — from 7 to 8 p.m. — will provide a sampling of the full training.

The event will be conducted in Meeting Room A at the main branch of the Licking County Library, 101 W. Main St., Newark. It’s free, and refreshments will be served.

For more information on what Mental Health First Aid training is all about, check out our recent article at: http://mhalc.org/?p=2919

For more information on the event, call Kay Spergel at 740-522-1234 or Penny Sitler at 740-522-1341.

This article appeared in the Newark Advocate September 30, 2014.