KEARNEY – Tracy Dennis-Tiwary is the keynote speaker for an upcoming mental health conference at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The conference, “Fostering Mental Health and Resilience on College Campuses and in Communities,” is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Ponderosa Room inside the Nebraskan Student Union on campus. All students, staff, faculty, mental health providers and community members are invited to attend the free event.
Dennis-Tiwary is the bestselling author of “Future Tense,” which offers a revolutionary new way of understanding, managing and leveraging anxiety. A professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Emotion Regulation Lab at Hunter College in New York City, she argues that we can’t eradicate anxiety completely, and more importantly, that we shouldn’t try to. Anxiety evolved to help us imagine, plan and prepare for tomorrow – it makes us more future-oriented and persistent so we can chase our goals. If we can learn to experience the healthy aspects of anxiety, and work through the difficult parts, we’ll be better equipped to face our uncertain future with hope, tenacity and courage.
In her book, Dennis-Tiwary makes the case for anxiety: why we need this difficult emotion, how our current view of it is unhelpful, and how we can shift our perspective on anxiety so we can better use it as the advantage it evolved to be.
Dennis-Tiwary has published more than 100 scientific articles, delivered over 400 presentations and been featured in a wide range of media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, NPR and Bloomberg Television. She’s the founder and chief strategy officer of Wise Therapeutics, where she translates neuroscience and cognitive therapy techniques into gamified, clinically validated digital therapeutics for mental health.
Sponsored by the UNK Office of Inclusive Excellence and Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN), the conference also promotes mental health literacy and highlights local resources.
Attendees are required to register for the event before Sept. 30 by visiting https://go.unk.edu/j7b5. Continuing education units are available.
For more information, contact UNK psychology professor and BHECN-Central Director Krista Fritson at 308-865-8247 or fritsonkk@unk.edu.
Conference Schedule
8 a.m. – Registration and networking
8:30 a.m. – “Addressing the Mental Health Crisis on College Campuses,” Maha Younes, UNK chief diversity officer
8:55 a.m. – “Promoting Mental Health Literacy and Wellness at UNK,” Krista Fritson, UNK psychology professor and BHECN-Central director
9:30 a.m. – “Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for You (Learning to Worry Better Instead of Worrying Less),” Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Emotion Regulation Lab at Hunter College
10:45 a.m. – Break
11 a.m. – “Tools and Tactics – Dialogue,” Tracy Dennis-Tiwary
Noon – Lunch break
1 p.m. – “Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Impact on Mental Health,” Ashley Farrens, trauma program coordinator at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
2:15 p.m. – “Suicide Awareness – Safe Messaging,” Jessica Schlegelmilch, licensed independent mental health practitioner
2:45 p.m. – Break
3 p.m. – “Tools for Success,” Tina Morris, licensed independent mental health practitioner
3:30 p.m. – Mental health provider and advocate panel: UNK Counseling, Buffalo County Community Partners, Kearney Police Department Co-Responder Program and Region 3 Behavioral Health Services
