Belly of the Whale Conference - Corpus Christi

Organizations Host a Conference on Overdose and Mental Health Crisis

Corpus Christi, TX. (August 2024) — Belly of the Whale Mental Health Conference will take place on Friday, August 30,  2024, 8:00 to 3:00 at the Corpus Christi Country Club. This event is hosted by the Spiritual Care Network and Shoreline Treatment Center. The event is open to the community, mental health professionals and faith leaders. The theme, In The Belly of the Whale, will address issues when people feel consumed by mental health or addiction struggles.

The conference committee chair is JP Rodriguez from Shoreline Treatment Center and also a leader for  the Corpus Christi Spiritual Care Network. The mission of this national nonprofit is to bridge the gap between mental health providers, addiction professionals and the faith community through collaboration and education.

“Mental health professionals, counselors and social workers will benefit from continuing education credit provided by industry experts on topics including mental wellness, overdose and suicide prevention with a faith based approach,” said JP Rodriguez. “We also offer sponsorship opportunities to highlight top treatment programs in the area.”

“The conference will discuss mental health and addiction issues for people of all ages. At Shoreline, we treat adolescents struggling with substance use disorders, but more importantly we treat the underlying causes of problematic and high-risk behavior. Teens that struggle with substance use often have depression, anxiety, and trauma-related issues,” said Mark Johnson, Executive Director and CEO of Shoreline Treatment Center.

The conference is an invaluable platform for connecting individuals that are seeking help to receive much-needed assistance for treatment for themselves or a family member utilizing a faith based approach to wellness. The event is also a great way for faith leaders, civic leaders and professionals in the community to form meaningful connections to resources, education and collaboration.

“This unique event is an opportunity for concerned community members and churches in Corpus Christi to come together about current topics regarding the mental health, suicide and the overdose crisis in our community,” said Eric Ayles, President of the Spiritual Care Network. “We are excited to partner with these organizations to help save lives.”

In addition to the excellent speakers, the conference will host over 25 resource tables with representatives from nonprofit organizations, treatment centers, counselors, hospitals and other community programs. Attendees will have the chance to visit exhibit tables from various local organizations and treatment programs and learn about valuable local resources for treatment. The admission tickets also include lunch and coffee.