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In observance of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs are excited to host a virtual event titled “The Thriving Warrior: Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Individuals Living with Sickle Cell Disease.”

As life expectancy for individuals with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has increased, there is a concomitant surge in the need and demand for resources to enhance quality of life, including mental health. Psychiatric disorders, especially depression and anxiety, are common in both children and adults with SCD and can be exacerbated by chronic and/or acute medical issues, socioeconomic factors, and the trauma and ongoing toll of receiving stigmatizing, biased care. In this panel, you will hear from warriors across the lifespan who will share their experiences, opportunities, and challenges in addressing their mental health and building the necessary resiliency, self-care, and support systems.

Event: SCD and mental health panel—Two warrior TED Talks followed by a facilitated panel discussion with 3 additional warriors/spouse of a warrior.

Moderator: Marsha Treadwell, Ph.D., Professor in Residence, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, UCSF School of Medicine; Co-Director, UCSF Sickle Cell Center of Excellence; Jordan Fund Endowed Chair, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland