Panel discussion will promote mental health through lens of lived experience

The West Virginia University community is invited to a panel discussion titled “Mental Health Awareness Through the Lens of Multiple Lived Experiences” on Tuesday, April 16, from 1-2 p.m. in Health Sciences Center – North 2940B. This event is presented by the WVU Health Sciences Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Cross-Cutting Committee.

Moderated by T. Ann Hawkins, PhD, director of the WVU Carruth Center, panelists include Mark King, Colin Morris and Megan Thomas.

Mark King is a licensed independent clinical social worker and certified brainspotting practitioner. He works as a therapist at Academy Programs where he provides services related to substance use and other behavioral health issues (anxiety, depression, complex trauma, ODD, Conduct Disorder, grief). He also works part-time at Appalachian Counseling Center where he provides individual and family therapy for individuals across West Virginia.

Mark has spent over a decade working with children and families in Kentucky and West Virginia. He graduated from Kentucky Christian University with a B.S. in History and a minor in human services and a master’s degree in social work and certificate in integrated mental and behavioral health. During that time, he developed experiences in community mental health, prevention work and outreach through involvement with Caritas House, Valley Health Care, Teens as Parenting Program and Early Head start.

Colin Morris, originally from Centreville, Virginia, is a senior forensic biology major at WVU. Colin plans to enter law enforcement or pursue a career in a crime lab. He identifies as a student with accommodations and currently serves as vice president for WVU’s Office of Accessibility Services Student Advisory Group.

Megan Thomas, Psy.D., obtained a doctorate in clinical psychology at Eastern Kentucky University in 2023 and completed her predoctoral internship in the Carruth Center at WVU where she currently works as a supervised staff psychologist. Her clinical training has focused on collegiate populations, and early on, she quickly discovered her interest and passion working with this population. She is also interested in serving underserved populations, including students in rural, LGBTQ+, first-generation and Appalachian populations.