Past Events

BH WELL Tobacco Treatment Workshop: Normalizing Tobacco Treatment in Mental and Behavioral Health Treatment Settings

Dec 4, 2024, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

This free workshop will discuss the importance of normalizing tobacco treatment in mental and behavioral health treatment settings. The target audience for this workshop is tobacco treatment specialists, health educators, and other health professionals. We have approval for workshop participants to be eligible for 2 CEs through the Kentucky Board of Nursing and are currently seeking approval for 2 CEs through the Kentucky Board of Social Work. This is a virtual workshop held on Zoom.

BH WELL Open House at Eastern State Hospital

Nov 21, 2024, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The BH WELL research team hosted an open house event at their new office space in the Eastern State Hospital research suite on November 21st from 11AM-1PM and 4PM-6PM. Dr. Zim Okoli gave a short address at noon.

2024 UK Curiosity Fair

Nov 6, 2024, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

The Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team participated in the University of Kentucky's Curiosity Fair on November 6th, 2024 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM in the Gatton Student Center Ballroom. The event was hosted by the UK Office of Undergraduate Research and Lewis Honors College. The BH WELL table invited participants to take part in a grounding experience of potting plant clippings and learn about the benefits of gardening to mental health.

APNA 38th Annual Conference

Oct 9–12, 2024

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) 38th Annual Conference took place from October 9th - 12th, 2024, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The theme of the conference was Bringing Connection to Life for Ourselves, Those we Serve, & Each Other. The Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team attended the conference, presented both platform and poster presentations, and hosted a table in the Exhibit Hall.

Voices of Hope Peer Support Conference

Oct 3, 2024, 10:30 – 11:45 AM

Voices of Hope (VOH) is a Lexington-based organization with a mission to provide peer support to individuals in the recovery community. VOH hosted a peer support conference for individuals working in the recovery field. The conference focused on using research to educate peers providing services to individuals with co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health challenges.

Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program Coordinator Call

KY Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Program Meeting

Oct 1, 2024, 9:30 – 10:30 AM

The KY Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Program offers monthly meetings for grantees to continue learning about tobacco cessation resources and related information. At their October 2024 meeting, Dr. Zim Okoli presented virtually about the importance of tobacco treatment in Kentucky's mental and behavioral health settings. The presentation was followed by a time for questions from health department grantees working to promote cessation. This meeting was held via Zoom on October 1st from 9:30AM-10:30AM.

Recovery Month 2024 on Navy background with purple ribbon

Recovery Month Celebration 2024

Sep 16, 2024, 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM

In honor of Recovery Month, an annual health observance celebrating Americans in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD), BH WELL joined members of Kentucky’s recovery community, state leaders, and health officials at the Capitol in Frankfort on Monday, September 16, 2024.

2024 Lexington Pride Festival

Jun 29, 2024

The Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (KTPC) hosted an exhibit booth promoting Quit Now Kentucky and My Life, My Quit at Lexington Pride Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 29, 2024.

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Practice and Research Initiatives Showcase at Eastern State Hospital

Jun 11, 2024, 8:30 AM – 3:15 PM

As continued celebration of Eastern State Hospital’s 200th year of consecutive care provision to individuals living with mental and behavioral health challenges, we invite you to see how research and practice initiatives continue to strengthen patient outcomes and staff support here at ESH. Building the Future of Behavioral Health: Practice and Research Initiatives Showcase at Eastern State Hospital (PRISE) took place on June 11, 2024.

2024 KYSTARS Conference

May 24, 2024

The 2024 KYSTARS Consumer Conference will be held on Friday, May 24, 2024, at the Clarion Hotel in Lexington, Kentucky. The theme of this year’s conference is Growing Together, Growing Better: Planting the Seeds of Recovery.