In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Cambridge Public Library will host Dr. Jim O’Connell for a discussion about mental illness and homelessness on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. Dr. O’Connell will share stories, insights, and hard truths from a lifetime spent caring for unhoused patients.
The discussion is cosponsored by the National Alliance Mental on Mental Illness (NAMI) Cambridge/Middlesex chapter and will be moderated by NAMI board member Dr. Rich Parker. This event is in-person, and registration is required.
Dr. Jim O’Connell is the founding physician and President of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP). He is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He established the nation’s first medical respite program in 1985 at the Lemuel Shattuck Shelter. Working with the MGH Laboratory of Computer Science, Dr. O’Connell designed and implemented the nation’s first computerized medical record for the homeless.
Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a driving force in addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions.
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