by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
A week and a half after the deadliest school shooting in United States History – one that left the mental stability of the killer and the psychological treatment he received (or didn’t) in question – Jacksonville Area Legal Aid sponsored its first continuing law education course in Mental Health Awareness.
“I think this course is very timely considering the events that just recently took place at Virginia Tech,” said Wayne Hogan, partner at Terrell Hogan. “As members of the legal community, it’s important for us to understand mental illness and know how to recognize them. The events that took place are on everyone’s minds and so it puts the topic of mental health right out front.”
Hogan and his wife Pat, a licensed mental health counselor, established JALA’s Mental Health Advocacy Project.
“Legal Aid and the Mental Health Advocacy Project are there to act as a safety valve to help prevent mental illness from turning into a source for dangerous conflict,” he added.
Hogan was one of roughly 200 members of the legal and law enforcement communities that attended the The Mental Health Awareness & Ethics CLE at the Main Library’s auditorium for ethics credits.
The group of speakers for the class included Sheriff John Rutherford; Dr. Tonia Werner, Director of Psychiatry, University of Florida Medical School; Duval County Public Defender Bill White; and attorney Elizabeth Clark Tarbert, Ethics Counsel for The Florida Bar.
The panel addressed topics including types of mental disorders, public policy proposals for dealing with mental illness, in the criminal justice system, civil rights issues and attorney ethics and professional responsibility.
Christa Figgins, JALA’s development director, said all registration fees generated by the course will support JALA.
The CLE course was conceived by JALA Board President Chad Roberts, who emphasized that subjects like mental illness and substance abuse awareness are core issues related to JALA’s mission.
“Providing The Florida Bar’s mandatory CLE hours in these subject areas is a win-win for both JALA and also the attorneys who support JALA,” said Roberts. “We are pleased to create this opportunity for the legal community to support JALA and for JALA to provide them something of value in return.”