For those of you who live in town or might be passing through Salt Lake in the next week, I will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday, August 23rd at the ribbon cutting for the new wing at the University Neuropsychiatric Institute up at University Research Park (501 Chipeta Way).

This is the hospital where I was treated for postpartum depression, and last year I spoke at the ground breaking ceremony. They've added 80 new beds in a 120,000 square-foot expansion which will provide greater access to mental health services:

"There is a critical need for inpatient psychiatric treatment in our community – and it continues to grow," said Ross Van Vranken, UNI executive director. "Our facility is always full and there is a waiting list for many acutely ill patients. This is particularly serious for adolescents and school-age children."

The move to the new building will allow the psychiatry department to provide greater clinical guidance and teaching experiences for future psychiatrists, psychologists, residents, nurses, and other mental health professionals. The new space also will provide much needed room for clinical treatment research, brain imaging, and the study of the genetics of mental illness.

I could not be more excited or flattered to be a part of this event.

The ceremony starts at 11 AM and they will be giving tours of the building following the actual ribbon cutting up until 7 PM. It's all open to the public.

I asked and they said I might want to tone down my language, so there won't be any reference to balls or the ownership thereof. Regardless, it should be fun and you'd get the chance to see one of the most sophisticated mental health hospitals in the country.