On July 25 The Big Silence had an amazing day at the Southern Region Student Wellness Conference at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA. What an inspiring day spent with influential teachers and administrators who work directly with our youth!
In “Finding Your Happiest Place Within” Karena Dawn shared practices and tools to guide and inspire educators, school administrators, teachers, shared her six pillars of well-being, how to turn challenges into triumphs, open up about emotions and brave conversations about mental health.
A passionate mental health advocate, Karena shared her story from hopelessness to healing. Growing up with a mother who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, her childhood was filled with traumatic experiences. Karena overcame a dark period of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in her teens and 20s, and was able to forge a path to self-discovery, build a nurturing community that has helped millions lead healthier happier lives, find peace and a life filled with hope and optimism.
At the heart of Karena’s story is the eternal struggle we all share—how to move past the pain and suffering of our personal battles to experience life’s joys.
The first 200 participants received Karena’s memoir, The Big Silence: A Daughter’s Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing. Her talk was followed by a “meet and greet” and a book signing.
