12:30 PM

Addressing the Connection of Brain Injury, Public Health and the Legal System in North Carolina
A brain injury is an invisible disability that can affect a person’s behavior, ability to process information, and physical condition. Research dating back more than 30 years tells us that mental health disorders are commonly observed in TBI patients. In the first-year post-injury, up to 77% receive a psychiatric diagnosis. Anxiety, mood, and substance-use disorders are common and often present co-morbidly. These individuals also face higher rates of mental health disorders which are associated with worse health outcomes, increased mental health care utilization, and poorer quality of life.

Join DRNC and their resident TBI expert and survivor to provide an overview of the different types of brain injuries and dispel common myths about individuals with brain injuries, mental health, and its relevance to our state public health and the legal system. This will include learning about various strategies and tips for communicating with clients with brain injuries and opportunities to practice and engage with other attendees through interactive activities. This session will also share information on DRNC's newly launched Brain Injury Community Screening Program.

Upon completion of this session, participants should be better able to:

• Identify general characteristics and components of brain injury types and their correlation with mental health, public health and the legal system.
• Address misconceptions and biases surrounding individuals with brain injuries and mental health and how these impact the receipt of support and services. Examples of effective Brain Injury accommodations and strategies will be discussed.
• Discuss and apply best practices when engaging with individuals with brain injuries and mental health. Attendees will learn how to implement brain injury screenings into their work.
  

Faculty
Desireé Gorbea-Finalet, MA, came to North Carolina from Puerto Rico in 2017 and brought her passion and tenacity along with her. She joined Disability Rights North Carolina in September 2021 as the Traumatic Brain Injury Justice Initiative Project Manager. Her work centers on developing and implementing an innovative Traumatic Brain Injury Screening and Supportive Services Initiative program in various community-based service settings in North Carolina. Her passion for disability rights advocacy stems from her lived experience with multiple disabilities, including being a numerous TBI survivor and having Narcolepsy Type 1. She holds a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies focusing on International Peace Development from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Criminal Justice from the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico.

1:45 PM

Exploring Alternatives to Involuntary Commitment in North Carolina
In North Carolina, involuntary commitment is a significant legal and mental health procedure designed to ensure the safety of individuals who are deemed a danger to themselves or others due to severe mental illness. However, this process can be invasive and traumatic and may not address the underlying needs of individuals effectively.

In this session, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the various alternative approaches that can be employed to support mental health and well-being while minimizing the use of involuntary commitment. This panel discussion will feature a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss real-world applications and challenges.

Participants will leave with a well-rounded understanding of the alternatives to involuntary commitment and practical knowledge on how to implement and advocate for these approaches within their communities. By exploring and promoting alternative methods, we aim to enhance the quality of mental health care and support individuals in a more humane and effective manner.

Together, let’s work towards a more supportive and compassionate approach to mental health care in North Carolina.

Upon completion of this session, participants should be better able to:

• Discuss how IVC has been used and misused, and why there is a need for alternatives.
• Describe alternative strategies and interventions that NC is currently offering or working toward offering.
• Discuss the lack of alternatives overall and the need to generate new ideas, locations, and methods for managing crisis, and expand the reach of existing models, as well as crisis prevention in existing services
• Foster collaboration between mental health advocates, professionals, law enforcement, social services, and community organizations to create a cohesive support network that prioritizes individual needs and well-being.
• Identify the ways that peer workers are critical to the process of diverting from IVC/utilizing alternatives, and hopefully encourage those with no peers on their teams to add a peer worker.

6:30 PM