VolAware 2007 will be held in the University Center on Oct. 8-9 and will target mental health awareness, wellness, and suicide prevention. The event includes hands-on demonstrations and sessions open to all students and area residents.

"We hope that by putting together a booth, participants will be able to educate the community about their culture, increase knowledge and awareness about these topics, and help to de-stigmatize mental health." Dr. Connie BriscoeIn October 2006, the UT Counseling Center, UT Safety Environment and Education Center and WVLT TV Channel 8 hosted the first VolAware. The event will continue to be held the second week of October during national Mental Health Awareness Week.

Mental health screenings, rape aggression defense class demonstrations, yoga classes, free chair massage and QPR training sessions, aimed at suicide prevention, will all be part of the two-day event.

The main event on Monday, Oct. 8 is the "Mental Health in My World" booth competition.

"We hope that by putting together a booth, participants will be able to educate the community about their culture, increase knowledge and awareness about these topics and help to de-stigmatize mental health," Dr. Connie Briscoe, assistant director of the UT Student Counseling Center, said. Briscoe is also the director of Outreach and Consultation and co-chair of the VolAware committee.

Any group wishing to present a booth should have between four and six volunteers and should register by Oct. 1.

"I also hope that the booth competition will provide the UT community with another opportunity to learn about mental health, wellness and suicide prevention," Briscoe said.

All events, sessions and activities are free and open to the public.