CHARLES P. SEGER SEMINAR: Recovering from Suicide and Depression

8th Annual Charles P. Seger Seminar
April 24, 2008

The Charles P. Seger Seminar was established in 2001 and is traditionally held in May as a part of May is Mental Health Month. The purpose of the seminar is to bring people living with mental illness, family members and professionals together to encourage dialogue about depression, suicide prevention, intervention and surviving the loss of a loved one to mental illness.

This year the Association has teamed up with Cascia Hall Preparatory School, our host for this year's event, which will be an early kick-off to Mental Health Month.

For more information contact Karen LaPlante at (918)585-1213, or email klaplante@mhat.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008

6:00 - 7:30 PM
A Game Plan for Life: Men, Depression and Surviving

Cascia Hall Preparatory School
Performing Arts Center
25th and Utica - Tulsa

Featuring
Eric Hipple
Former Quarterback, Detroit Lions

During the evening, Hipple will share his personal struggles related to overcoming depression, and will also speak from the heart about the loss of his teenage son to suicide in 2000. The dialogue for the evening will be facilitated by Becky Dixon, host of Oklahomans, and former co-host of ABC's Wide World of Sports.

Reception Following
Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Special thanks to Cascia Hall Preparatory School for hosting this special presentation. Thanks also to Penny and Paul Loyd, Jr., Liberty Press, and Susan Rainey for their contributions.

ERIC HIPPLE
Eric Hipple is a former starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions. Despite his success, Eric was often overcome by feelings of worthlessness and anger. He drank excessively and lived the “fast life.” After the tragic suicide of his 15-year-old son and an arrest for DUI, Eric finally decided he needed help. Now Eric serves as the outreach coordinator for the University of Michigan Depression Center. His personal experiences are what fuel his passion for helping others heal, and even more importantly, give him the drive to educate others about prevention.

If his years as a professional athlete taught him anything, it’s that men, especially those in high profile positions, just don’t like to talk about things like depression. And yet, the stress of their jobs is one thing that can make them more vulnerable. One of Eric’s goals is to break down stigma and change that way of thinking. As a father, he hopes that by educating parents about risk factors and warning signs he can prevent others from losing a child to suicide. And, when he talks to students, Eric likes to focus on not just signs of depression, but the underlying causes. That basic understanding is often what helps children and their parents take the necessary steps to treatment.

Eric was recently featured in the documentary Men Get Depression. Set to debut on PBS in May 2008, the production explores the lives of men with their families as they face the challenges of depression. This documentary is a part of a national public education initiative related to men and depression. For more information see www.mengetdepression.com.