The Purple Rose & St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea to Place Mental Health in the Spotlight

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A panel of mental health experts will join Director Guy Sanville and members of the cast of The Purple Rose Theatre Company's "Harvey" following the 2 p.m. performance on July 16, 2017 for a special post-production talk back. Audience members are invited to participate in this free, enhanced talk back, which will begin around 4:30 p.m.

"Harvey," a Pulitzer prize-winning American classic by Mary Chase, is the story of Elwood P. Dowd, who insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta's social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarrassment for her family-and especially for her daughter, Myrtle Mae-Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. When they arrive at the sanitarium, a comedy of errors ensues.

"The play is about the power of imagination to forge alternative ways of seeing in a world that has grown small and mean," says Director Guy Sanville. "It is in this context that Elwood shows us that some people are blind."

The discussion, moderated by health reporter Lila Lazarus, will feature a host of mental health experts from St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, including:

Etienne Dehoorne, MD, Medical Director, Behavioral Health Services

Laura Reese, MD, Psychiatrist, Inpatient Behavioral Health

Lissa Perrin, LMSW, Therapist, Outpatient Behavioral Health

Michele Johnson, RN, Inpatient Behavioral Health

Dr. Dehoorne is board certified in General Psychiatry and currently serves as the Medical Director for Psychiatry Services at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. Dr. Reese is board certified in General and Forensic Psychiatry. Perrin holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan with a concentration in clinical social work. Johnson is a registered nurse with over two decades experience in psychiatric nursing.

St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Director of Behavioral Health Nancy Siegrist says the goal of the talk back is to engage the community on the importance of mental health.

"There tends to be a stigma surrounding mental health - we want to make sure people understand the misconceptions and feel comfortable talking about it. During the panel discussion, we will be comparing the way people viewed mental health in the '40s, as portrayed by 'Harvey,' to today. We will also talk about the different treatments depicted in the play, including inpatient mental health care, how alcoholism was viewed, and what approaches remain the same and what is different today."

While these are starting points for discussion, audience members will be able to ask questions of the panel. "We really want it to be interactive," says Siegrist. "People can stay after the performance or come just for the talk."

St. Joe's Chelsea has a robust inpatient unit and two outpatient behavioral health clinics for individuals of all ages. The staff is committed to helping educate the community on the importance of mental health and asking for help when needed. "With our dedication to behavioral health," says Dr. Dehoorne, "partnering with the Purple Rose for 'Harvey,' will be a unique way for us to educate the community in an interesting, interactive and engaging way."

This event is made possible by the support of Chelsea State Bank, Legacy Assisted Living, St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, and Daniel J. & Patricia Stankey.

Tickets for the July 16 performance and panel discussion are a special price of $41. "Harvey" performances run through Saturday, August 26. Ticket prices range from $20.50 to $46 with special discounts for students, seniors, teachers, members of the military and groups. For more information or to make reservations call (734) 433-7673 or go to www.purplerosetheatre.org. All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118.

Founded in 1991 by actor, playwright, musician and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose Theatre Company is a creative home for original American plays. In the 168-seat theatre, patrons experience an intimate encounter with live theatre.

The PRTC also provides an apprenticeship program, performance classes, readings, lectures and tours. It commissions new work from established and early-career playwrights. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional theatre, the PRTC operates under a Small Professional Theatre agreement with the Actors' Equity Association.

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving seven counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Lenawee. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 443-bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 136-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, and 133-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. Combined, the five hospitals are licensed for 1,553 beds, have five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 16,200 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 2,700 physicians. SJMHS has annual operating revenues of about $1.9 billion and returns about $120 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs.

SJMHS is a member of Trinity Health, a leading Catholic health care system based in Livonia, Mich. Trinity Health operates in 22 states, employs about 97,000 people, has annual operating revenues of about $15.8 billion and assets of about $23.4 billion. Additionally, the organization returns almost $1 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, visit www.stjoeshealth.org.