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PRESS RELEASE
ARS of Western USA, Inc.
Regional Office
517 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818-500-1343
Fax: 818-242-3732
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: http://ars1910.org/
FB: http://www.facebook.com/arswusa
CONTACT: Talar Aintablian
[email protected]
ARS and Pacific Clinics Forum On Depression, PTSD & Anxiety Offers Hope
Glendale, CA (December 12, 2012) - The Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder, and Anxiety forum held on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 was the
second in a series of community forums organized in partnership with the
Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Western USA and the Pacific Clinics
community behavioral health center.
Over 75 community members gathered at the Glendale Youth Center and received
a wide breadth of information from an expert panel, including panelists:
PsyD. Charles Pilavian, Clinical Psychologist Rusanna Jurian, and
Psychiatrist Sarkis Arevian. Psychiatrist Arakel Davtian served as
moderator, and presented the overall program objectives and each presenter.
ARS Regional Executive Chairperson Lena Bozoyan explained what the ARS does
within the community and stressed the importance of discussing the issues
important to our community, while Dr. Emma Oshagan, Director of Armenian
Program Development at Pacific Clinics, explained the types of services,
which are provided to culturally Armenian clients at Pacific Clinics.
The first presenter, Dr. Pilavian who works for the County of Los Angeles,
defined and explained anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and
touched upon panic attacks, hyper-arousal, irritability and agitation. He
noted that human beings are very adaptable beings, they adapt to new
conditions very easily, but when the trauma experienced by someone is so
severe that it is beyond the capacity of the individual to tolerate it,
then, it could result in PTSD. He explained that in terms of recovery from
psychological disorders, the more someone is able to express himself, the
better it is; the more someone becomes more isolated, the worst the
situation becomes.
Depression was the subject presented by the second presenter, Rusanna
Jurian, who works as an intern-counselor for the ARS Child, Youth and Family
Guidance Center. After defining the symptoms of depression, she presented
the signs, causes and types of depression. Jurian explained the differences
on how men and women deal with depression, in addition to those of
children's experiences. She said that counselors can help recognize signs of
depression, while talking and listening encourages sharing feelings of
depression.
The final speaker was Dr. Sarkis Arevian, who continues to practice
psychiatry. He continued the discussion on depression, bringing into focus
the serious illness, the reactions of Armenians due to cultural influences,
depression of the elderly, the difference between less severe and severe
depression, the role of therapy sessions and medications, and the biggest
problem of all: accepting that they have a problem. He summed it up as,
"When you are anxious, you get hopeless and you feel trapped; you get
depressed."
The audience had a lot to share with and ask the panelists. One statistic
that Jurian had shared with the audience was that the U.S. was the top
country with depression, while Armenia was ranked 25. Dr. Arevian explained
that the norm in Armenia is slightly depressed, hence people consider
themselves depressed only if they are suffering more than what is
essentially the norm.
The following are the last two sessions of the upcoming community forums:
Issues of Immigrants: Acculturation, Adaptation & Generational Conflicts
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 6-8 pm
Glendale Youth Center (211 W. Chestnut St., Glendale, CA)
Panelists: Levon Jernazian, PhD; Ardashes Kassakhian, Glendale City Clerk
Moderator: Tamar Tufenkdjian
Divorce and Child Custody
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - 6-8 pm
Glendale Youth Center (211 W. Chestnut St., Glendale, CA)
Panelists: Rev. Ghevond Kirazian, Maral Babian, PhD, PsyD; Mariam Vanounts,
MFT
Moderator: Suzanne Douzmanian, Chairperson, Armenian Advisory Board, Pacific
Clinics
For additional information on the community forum series, visit
www.facebook.com/arswusa or contact the ARS Regional Headquarters at (818)
500-1343.
The ARS of Western USA, established in 1984 and with regional headquarters
in Glendale, CA, has 27 chapters and more than 1,500 members in five western
states. The ARS-WUSA operates a Social Services Division, a Child, Youth,
and Family Guidance Center, and funds numerous youth programs, scholarships
and relief efforts.
For further information, please visit www.arswestusa.org or call
818-500-1343.
###
ARS of Western USA, Inc.
Regional Office
517 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818-500-1343
Fax: 818-242-3732
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: http://ars1910.org/
FB: http://www.facebook.com/arswusa
CONTACT: Talar Aintablian
[email protected]
ARS and Pacific Clinics Forum On Depression, PTSD & Anxiety Offers Hope
Glendale, CA (December 12, 2012) - The Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder, and Anxiety forum held on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 was the
second in a series of community forums organized in partnership with the
Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Western USA and the Pacific Clinics
community behavioral health center.
Over 75 community members gathered at the Glendale Youth Center and received
a wide breadth of information from an expert panel, including panelists:
PsyD. Charles Pilavian, Clinical Psychologist Rusanna Jurian, and
Psychiatrist Sarkis Arevian. Psychiatrist Arakel Davtian served as
moderator, and presented the overall program objectives and each presenter.
ARS Regional Executive Chairperson Lena Bozoyan explained what the ARS does
within the community and stressed the importance of discussing the issues
important to our community, while Dr. Emma Oshagan, Director of Armenian
Program Development at Pacific Clinics, explained the types of services,
which are provided to culturally Armenian clients at Pacific Clinics.
The first presenter, Dr. Pilavian who works for the County of Los Angeles,
defined and explained anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and
touched upon panic attacks, hyper-arousal, irritability and agitation. He
noted that human beings are very adaptable beings, they adapt to new
conditions very easily, but when the trauma experienced by someone is so
severe that it is beyond the capacity of the individual to tolerate it,
then, it could result in PTSD. He explained that in terms of recovery from
psychological disorders, the more someone is able to express himself, the
better it is; the more someone becomes more isolated, the worst the
situation becomes.
Depression was the subject presented by the second presenter, Rusanna
Jurian, who works as an intern-counselor for the ARS Child, Youth and Family
Guidance Center. After defining the symptoms of depression, she presented
the signs, causes and types of depression. Jurian explained the differences
on how men and women deal with depression, in addition to those of
children's experiences. She said that counselors can help recognize signs of
depression, while talking and listening encourages sharing feelings of
depression.
The final speaker was Dr. Sarkis Arevian, who continues to practice
psychiatry. He continued the discussion on depression, bringing into focus
the serious illness, the reactions of Armenians due to cultural influences,
depression of the elderly, the difference between less severe and severe
depression, the role of therapy sessions and medications, and the biggest
problem of all: accepting that they have a problem. He summed it up as,
"When you are anxious, you get hopeless and you feel trapped; you get
depressed."
The audience had a lot to share with and ask the panelists. One statistic
that Jurian had shared with the audience was that the U.S. was the top
country with depression, while Armenia was ranked 25. Dr. Arevian explained
that the norm in Armenia is slightly depressed, hence people consider
themselves depressed only if they are suffering more than what is
essentially the norm.
The following are the last two sessions of the upcoming community forums:
Issues of Immigrants: Acculturation, Adaptation & Generational Conflicts
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 6-8 pm
Glendale Youth Center (211 W. Chestnut St., Glendale, CA)
Panelists: Levon Jernazian, PhD; Ardashes Kassakhian, Glendale City Clerk
Moderator: Tamar Tufenkdjian
Divorce and Child Custody
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - 6-8 pm
Glendale Youth Center (211 W. Chestnut St., Glendale, CA)
Panelists: Rev. Ghevond Kirazian, Maral Babian, PhD, PsyD; Mariam Vanounts,
MFT
Moderator: Suzanne Douzmanian, Chairperson, Armenian Advisory Board, Pacific
Clinics
For additional information on the community forum series, visit
www.facebook.com/arswusa or contact the ARS Regional Headquarters at (818)
500-1343.
The ARS of Western USA, established in 1984 and with regional headquarters
in Glendale, CA, has 27 chapters and more than 1,500 members in five western
states. The ARS-WUSA operates a Social Services Division, a Child, Youth,
and Family Guidance Center, and funds numerous youth programs, scholarships
and relief efforts.
For further information, please visit www.arswestusa.org or call
818-500-1343.
###