According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults live with mental illness. About 8% of the U.S. population had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. More than 19% have an anxiety disorder.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we are teaming up with Southside Behavioral Health and Virginia Commonwealth University to address the common topics of depression and anxiety.

This virtual talk took place on Wednesday, May 11, from 12-12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Visit www.vcuhealth.org/cmh-core for the Zoom link. A recording of the presentation can be found here https://www.vcuhealth.org/community-memorial-hospital/community-resources/core-program. 

Debra Berryman, divisional director of adult outpatient, has been employed at Southside Behavioral Health since June 2003. She graduated from Longwood University with a bachelor’s of science in social work and continued her education at VCU with a master’s degree in social work. A resident of Mecklenburg County, Debra works in the Clarksville office. She will talk about depression.

Nina Plotnikov is a fourth-year doctoral student in the clinical program of behavioral medicine at VCU College of Humanities and Sciences. Originally from upstate New York, she earned her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and currently resides in Chesterfield. She will speak about anxiety.