OSMOND — Osmond Community School will host guest speaker Mark Potter at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19, in the school gym. Potter, along with his wife, Nanette, will be speaking on the subject of “The Silent Epidemic.”
The assembly is set up for students in grades 7-12th grades, however, ALL community and family members are invited to attend.
Mark was a college basketball coach for 30 years and at the height of his career when he experienced a severe depression. He shares his story and his passion for mental health, reducing the stigma, and inspiring others to care for themselves.
Potter will engage and inspire his audience while providing hope for recovery. He has been on a crusade to educate people about depression and encourage others suffering from mental illness to seek assistance. His passion is to share his story in hopes that people will pursue treatment and find a way to live productively with mental illness.
His wife, Nanette, will also share the often forgotten perspective of the family’s side of the story. With over 30 years in education herself, she wasn’t equipped to deal with mental illness. She was quickly thrown into the role of caretaker.
Struggling with what to do, she did something about it! She made that first call for help. When Nanette speaks with her husband, she is very open about her journey as the caregiver. She tells the family perspective, which is the often forgotten side of mental illness.
Nanette helps people relate to the thoughts she had and gives people HOPE. She wants to make sure this illness is not ignored, but addressed and dealt with. She touches on the signs and symptoms and what to do when one feels alone and helpless.
The two of them together bring the battle of severe depression full circle. Their message will really drive it home for many people.
