DAYTON -- In conjunction with the exhibition game between the University of Dayton and the Ohio State University men's basketball teams, the University of Dayton and CareSource will host the Spotlight Town Hall event to honor Jayda Grant and champion adolescent and young adult mental health and suicide prevention.  The evening will spotlight and drive awareness and education of mental health and wellness in adolescents and young adults.

The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the University of Dayton Arena on Thursday, Oct. 19 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET.

The program will be highlighted by a presentation by Mark and Kym Hilinski, to honor the life of their son Tyler, who died by suicide in 2018.  Hilinski's Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to promote awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student athletes. The Foundation's mission is to educate, advocate, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness.

The Hilinski's presentation will be followed by a panel discussion including Dayton head coach Anthony Grant and his wife Chris, and other distinguished panelists.  The panel discussion will be moderated by Tony Coder, Executive Director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF). Panelists include:

• Anthony and Chris Grant
• Mark and Kym Hilinski, Hilinski's Hope Foundation
• Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA, Director of Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
• Dr. James Houle, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State
• Dr. Wayne Chappelle, clinical-sports psychologist to collegiate and professional athletes, and TeamHealth Medical Consortium
• Brandon Saho, Host of the Mental Game Podcast 
• Charlie Pope- Survivor and Mental Health Advocate and  Tiffany Pope, -Mental Health Advocate
• Kelly Blankenship, associate chief medical officer, behavioral health at Dayton Children's Hospital

Attendees will be invited to submit questions online and there will be an electronic question and answer as part of the discussion by the panelists. Local mental health organizations throughout the Dayton area will be on the concourse before and after the program for attendees to learn about services and programs.

While supporting the mental health of people of all ages is critical, this program will focus on the mental health needs of adolescents and young adults. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to determine appropriateness for an adolescent's age and development level.

A separate event, to be announced later, will be held at UD Arena on Friday that will offer experiences that will drive understanding, empathy and advocacy to educate the community about the mental health resources and services available and shine a light on recovery and mental wellness

Charity exhibition game tickets will be offered as part of the Dayton season ticket package, with sale of single game tickets announced as available. The town hall is free and open to the public. 

Details
What: The Spotlight, to shine a light on Mental Health
Who: Open to the public, this program will focus on the mental health needs and programs for adolescents and young adults. 
When: Thursday, October 19. Doors open, mental health resource fair and player meet and greet begins at 5 p.m., program begins at 6 p.m.. Keynote presentation by Mark and Kym Hilinski, followed by panel discussion. Event concludes approximately 8:30 p.m. 
Where: UD Arena. Free and general admission seating. Light concessions will be available for purchase. 
Event Questions: Trisha Greear, tgreear1@udayton.edu

Click here to learn more about and support the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation

Click here to learn more about and support the National Alliance on Mental Illness