By Roger Rapoport
Muskegon County's outstanding mental health services will be the focus of a special Zoom event Wednesday March 3 at 4:30 pm. Coming Up For Air Director Robert Cicchini, will join Actor/Production Designer Kirk Wahamaki, Health West’s Michael Pyne and myself, the film’s producer and co-screenwriter, for this hour long community conversation.
In February administrators, faculty, students and parents were provided the opportunity to watch this made in Muskegon and West Michigan film that features many terrific local actors. The film, which has won five best feature awards including a grand prize at the Culver City film festival in Los Angeles, will soon be available for streaming at Muskegonchannel.com and on the Muskegon Channel Roku and Amazon Fire TV app you can get free for either device from your channel store! 
Click Here to Join The Zoom Call With Health West - March 3 from 4:30-5:30 pm
In recent years Muskegon county has become a national leader in programs addressing the mental health challenges faced by young people. Local school districts have partnered with the Muskegon Area ISD, Health West, Hackley Community Care, and other local agencies to implement a wide range of programs focused on youth well being. Their work has been backed by multi million dollar grants from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to create this system of care.
Like the drama Coming Up For Air, which tells the story of a mother trying to help her son, a brilliant student and athlete, struggling with mental health challenges, the Muskegon county mental health programs are family oriented. In addition to 23 clinicians working in schools, parent outreach specialists have also been employed to provide full time peer support. Muskegon County also has an invaluable 24/7 mobile crisis team that can be accessed by calling 722-HELP.
Muskegon ISD’s Randy Lindquist said Coming Up For Air “highlights the importance of mental health care, and the pressures that are put upon teenagers to succeed. Muskegon county schools had the opportunity to screen this film with students in February. As a follow up to this screening an hour long panel discussion encourages further dialogue about the film as well as time for Q&A with those who produced it.”
Michael Pyne of Health West joins me for a preview conversation before the event tomorrow. Take a listen and plan on joining us for more information. It's a free discussion and anyone can attend.
We all need to "come up for air". We've been though so much. Please attend this informative discussion via Zoom.
What:
Panel Discussion about the film Coming Up For Air
Ask questions and further discuss the film
Ask questions and get information about the production of the film with local actors
Who:
Muskegon county students, families school staff and the general public
When:
One hour virtual session on March 3, 4:30-5:30 pm
How:
Connect to the March 3 virtual event (4:30-5:30). No password is required.
https://muskegonisd-org.zoom.us/j/98626730697
If you do not have internet access you can listen to this event on your phone by calling +1 301 715 8592 and using this meeting i.d. 986 2673 0697
