Our 5W Wednesday series highlights a variety of health care organizations, professionals and programs that keep our community healthy.
What is Bright Nights?
The University of Michigan Depression Center‘s Bright Nights is a community forums series that provides the public with up-to-date information on a variety of topics related to depression. At the beginning of each talk, an expert from the Depression Center presents an overview of the evening’s topic. This is followed by a Q & A session and discussion between audience members and the evening’s panel. This is a community-wide forum that includes panelists from outside of the U-M Health System.
Why does the Depression Center hold these community forums?
The Depression Center created the Bright Nights forums to provide community members with educational information, and encourage open dialogue about depression, in order to help reduce stigma and raise awareness that depression is a medical illness which can be treated.
Who can attend the forums?
Bright Nights is open to the public and there is no charge for attendance. For more information, please visit the Depression Center website or contact Trish Meyer at 734.763.7496 or meyerpa@umich.edu.
When is the next Bright Nights event?
The next forum will take place Tuesday, November 15, from 7:00-8:30pm. Link to Depression Center’s Bright Nights schedule.
Researchers at the University of Michigan are working hard to unlock answers and improve treatment options for mental health conditions, but they can’t do it alone. Participants play a vital role in finding better ways to treat depression and other conditions by taking part in research studies. With knowledge gained from research studies, treatment for mental health conditions will continue to improve. To provide greater understanding of the research process and the ways in which individuals can participate to help advance scientific knowledge, the University of Michigan Depression Center and Department of Psychiatry will present a Bright Nights Community Forum entitled, ”Partnering for Research: The Search for New Knowledge in Mental Health Treatment.”
Dr. Patricia Deldin, professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Michigan and Associate Director of the U-M Depression Center, will present a brief overview describing the process of mental health research, and highlighting why participation in research studies is critical for advancing knowledge and developing new treatments. This will be followed by a panel discussion with faculty members from the Depression Center and Department of Psychiatry, as well as community members who are involved with research.
Click here for a list of past topics.
Where are the forums held?
The Bright Nights public forums are held quarterly in the multi-purpose room of the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library, located at the corner of S. Fifth Avenue and William Street. See the AADL event listing here.
In addition, Bright Nights forums are held once per year at the Plymouth Library in Plymouth, MI. Please check the Bright Nights website for schedule and locations.
Resources from the U-M Depression Center:
Depression center website: depressioncenter.org
