Our annual symposium this year was a great success! The free community education program dubber "Journey to Wellness: Lifelong Recovery from Mental Illness" was from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sat., Jan 9, 2010 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in Sarasota.

The program featured Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Insel and the NIMH announced that a trio of genome-wide studies – collectively the largest to date – has pinpointed a vast array of genetic variation that cumulatively may account for at least one third of the genetic risk for schizophrenia. One of the studies traced schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in part, to the same chromosomal neighborhoods.

Gary Foster also spoke. Foster was a producer of “The Soloist” a film starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey. Jr. that told the story of a talented musician struggling with schizophrenia  living on the streets of L.A. and his unlikely friendship with a journalist who tries to help.

Look out for news about next year's symposium coming soon!