2025 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Name: Debunking Mental Health Myths
Start: 2025-10-01T08:30:00-0400
End: 2025-10-01T10:00:00-0400

Main Conference: Tuesday, September 30 - Thursday, October 2, 2025

Preconference: Monday September 29 - Tuesday, September 30, 2025

*Schedule subject to change.

Wednesday October 1, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT

Vermont

With approximately 20% of people worldwide experiencing a mental illness at any given moment, including rising numbers of mental health concerns across adolescents and young adults, it is vital for programs to be knowledgeable about and prepared to support participants with mental health conditions. Misinformation is a barrier to knowledge and to the ability to effectively provide support, and unfortunately runs rampant with respect to mental health conditions– what they are, and what they mean for the participant, as well as for program staff. Harmful misinformation about mental health conditions also breeds stigma, which in turn often leads to elevated fear that the impacted person will become unpredictable or dangerous, and an inclination to keep a distance from that person or to treat them differently rather than as an equal to others on the program. Conversely, accurate knowledge and empathy best position us to meaningfully connect with our program participants, contributing to an optimally successful program experience for participants and staff alike. In this session, Michelle Lange, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, will debunk common mental health myths and misconceptions, providing you with knowledge and skills to confidently and empathically work with program participants who experience common mental health challenges.

Speakers

Michelle Lange

Senior Lecturer, Christopher Newport University

Michelle Lange, Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She is a Senior Lecturer at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, a therapist in private practice, and has consulted in the travel industry. She has over 15 years of experience working in the areas of college student... Read More →

Wednesday October 1, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Vermont Holiday Inn By the Bay:88 Spring St, Portland, ME 04119

Mental Social Emotional Health, Breakout Session

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2025 Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Michelle Lange

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