Mindful Moments
VCU Department of Psychiatry
Mental Health Awareness Calendar
January
Month
Week
No Name-Calling Week (Jan. 20-24)
Day
Human Trafficking Awareness Day (Jan. 11)
February
Month
International Boost Self-Esteem Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Week
Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb. 16-23)
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb. 23-Feb. 29)
Day
Safer Internet Day (Feb. 11)
March
Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Week
Sleep Awareness Week (Mar. 1-7)
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (Mar. 30-Apr. 5)
World Autism Awareness Week (Mar. 30-Apr. 5)
Day
Self-Injury Awareness Day (Mar. 1)
Zero Discrimination Day (Mar. 1)
Kick Butts Day (Mar. 18)
World Down Syndrome Day (Mar. 21)
World Bipolar Day (Mar. 30)
April
Month
National Autism Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
National Counseling Awareness Month
National Minority Health Month
Day
World Autism Awareness Day (Apr. 2)
World Health Day (Apr. 7)
National Alcohol Screening Day (Apr. 7)
Day of Silence (Apr. 24)
National Stress Awareness Day (Apr. 18)
May
Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Week
National Mental Health Counseling Week (May 6-12)
National Prevention Week (May 11-17)
Day
World Maternal Mental Health Day (May 6)
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (May 9)
June
Month
Day
PTSD Awareness Day (Jun. 27)
July
Month
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Day
World Day Against Trafficking Persons (Jul. 30)
September
Month
National Suicide Prevention Month
Week
National Suicide Prevention Week (Sep. 6-12)
Day
World Suicide Prevention Day (Sep. 10)
October
Month
National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Week
Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 4-10)
OCD Awareness Week (Oct. 11-17)
ADHD Awareness Week (TBA)
Day
International Day of Non-Violence (Oct. 2)
World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10)
National Depression Screening Day (Oct. 8)
National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11)
National Stop Bullying Day (Oct. 14)
November
Week
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov. 14-23)
Day
International Stress Awareness Day (Nov. 6)
World Kindness Day (Nov. 13)
International Day for Tolerance (Nov. 16 )
International Survivors of Suicide Day (Nov. 21)
December
Month
National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month
Day
World AIDS Day (Dec. 1)
International Day of Persons With Disabilities (Dec. 3)
Human Rights Day (Dec. 10)
Newsletters
Psychiatry Newsletter November 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter October 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter September 2024
CMHRC Newsletter September 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter August 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter July 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter June 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter May 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter April 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter March 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter February 2024
Psychiatry Newsletter January 2024
Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds will be presented virtually via Zoom. Please see below for the current schedule:
September 2024 Grand Rounds Schedule
May 2024 Grand Rounds Schedule
April 2024 Grand Rounds Schedule
March 2024 Grand Rounds Schedule
February 2024 Grand Rounds Schedule
December 2023 Grand Rounds Schedule
November 2023 Grand Rounds Schedule
October 2023 Grand Rounds Schedule
September 2023 Grand Rounds Schedule
May 2023 Grand Rounds Schedule
News and Happenings
Inaugural Community Day a Success
Thank you to everyone that helped make the inaugural Community Day this past Saturday a tremendous success!
On Saturday, July 20, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. community members gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School to learn about the different mental health resources available to them. They also had the opportunity to enjoy live music, food trucks, face painting and wellness activities.
Dr. Antonia Swink Leading the Geriatric Psychiatry Program
VCU Psychiatry Ranked 14th in Nation for Funding
Dr. Kendler Reaches #1 Rank
2023 Partners in Healing Award
Dr. Gerry Moeller, MD, Featured in NEXT Article
2023 Canning Award Winners
Congratulations to Jason Boyce Draeger, Lead Clinical Social Worker on the adult inpatient units and Dr. Amy Soto, PGY-3 psychiatry resident.
Please join us in congratulating both awardees and in thanking our generous donors, the Cannings for their support of our inpatient service.
Faculty Member's Editorial Featured in Journal
Dr. Katy Maher's editorial "Reflection on Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic" was recently featured in the Journal of Radiology Nursing.
Read here: Katy Maher Editorial.
Dr. Abubaker Memorial Lecture
Click to view Dr. Kathleen Brady's Honorarium video
Employee Spotlight
Please visit our new Employee Spotlight feature, where we will be featuring various employees across the department.
Free Groups at VTCC
Join us for "Conversations with CMHRC". This a series of free groups that we are providing at VTCC.
Upcoming topics, dates and times of the groups may be found here: CMHRC Schedule
Employee Spotlight
Shannon E. Cusack, Ph.D.
In Your Own Words...
Are you new to Richmond? Where were you previously?
I am a Richmond native who left the area briefly for undergrad but promptly returned to Richmond for graduate school at VCU.
Describe your role in your own words
I am a clinical research psychologist and assistant professor in the department of psychiatry. My time is split between conducting interdisciplinary research in the area of traumatic stress and providing psychotherapy services to community members in need.
Most exciting and/or challenging part of your position?
The most exciting AND the most challenging part of my position is balancing the demands of both research and clinical work. It is extremely important to be to be involved in both as I believe research should inform my practice and vice versa, but balancing both also requires great time management skills.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction in your job?
The most satisfying aspect of my job as a clinical psychologist lies in the synergy between conducting research and providing therapy. It’s deeply fulfilling to apply research findings to real-world therapeutic settings, where I can see the direct impact of evidence-based practices on my clients' well-being. This integration not only enhances my therapeutic approach but also contributes to the broader field, driving innovation and improving outcomes for others.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
Outside of work I love to weightlift, bake, and spend time with my husband, son, and two pups!