Recognizing, Addressing and De-Escalating Mental Health Crisis: Important Skills for Challenging Times

A mental health crisis is scary and confusing to both the individual and their family and friends, but by knowing what to look for and how to address a crisis quickly, recovery is possible. Join Laura Wilson Slocum and Marisa Aguilar from Integral Care’s Crisis Services Team as they share signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis, mental health resources, de-escalation techniques and ways to support yourself and others. This community conversation includes an opportunity for audience members to ask questions.

Mind Matters at Home, presented by Ascension Seton, brings mental health experts and advocates straight into your home to share valuable information and tools for deepening our community’s understanding and managing of mental health during the challenging situation caused by the coronavirus.

Speakers

Laura Wilson Slocum, LPC

Practice Administrator for Crisis Services and Justice Initiatives at Integral Care

Laura Wilson Slocum, LPC, is the Practice Administrator for Crisis Services and Justice Initiatives at Integral Care. Since joining Integral Care 15 years ago, Laura has contributed to their substance use disorder services, psychiatric crisis services, and crisis intervention training for first responders. Laura has played a key role in developing partnerships with first responders and bridging the gap between behavioral health services, emergency medical services and criminal justice. Laura serves as a Travis County Representative on the Capitol Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) Criminal Justice Advisory Committee. Along with her team working in mobile crisis response, Laura received the NAMI John and Kitty Holman Award. She has presented her work at numerous national and state conferences, including The American Association of Suicidology and Journal of Emergency Medical Services national conferences.

Marisa Aguilar, LPC

Practice Manager of the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team at Integral Care

Marisa Aguilar, LPC, is the Practice Manager of the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team at Austin Travis County Integral Care, where she has worked for six years.  Marisa is a SafeTALK trainer, which serves to expand the reach of suicide intervention skills in communities and also assists in teaching TCOLE’s Crisis Intervention Team training with Austin Police Department and Travis County Sheriff’s Office.  Marisa has presented workshops at the 2016 and 2017 American Association of Suicidology Conference and 2019’s Texas Library Association Conference. Prior to her work at Integral Care, Marisa was a Guardian Ad Litem, appointed to represent the best interest of children in family law cases and has also served as a counselor with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, where she worked at Central Booking and Travis County Correctional Complex.

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