“Understanding Mental Illness” Free Lecture Series

The different aspects of mental illness will be the topic of a series of lectures sponsored by Step Up on Second that kicks off Tuesday to help mark Mental Health Month.

A premier mental health agency that provides support to individuals with mental illness, many of them homeless, Step Up on Second has put together a line up of experts who will address everything from bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia to medications and state-of-the-art-treatments.

The schedule of lectures is as follows:

• May 8 “Managing the Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder” -- Dr. Michael DiPaolo
  
• May 15 “What is Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Why is it the State-of-the-Art Treatment for Mental Illness?” -- Dr. Alex Kopelowicz
  
• May 22 “Medications 2007: A Discussion about Medications and Treatment of Mental Illness” -- Dr. Dino Tripodis
  
• May 29 “Understanding and Treating the Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia” -- Dr. Jeffrey Becker

The lectures begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at Dimensional Fund Advisors (around the Corner from Step Up on Second) at 1299 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.

Please enter at Arizona -- parking is available in Public Parking Structure 4 on 2nd Street and is $3. All lectures are free and open to the public, but space is limited. Call 310-260-7843 ext. 11 to reserve your seat.