Community welcome to hear Joan Becker speak on mental health experience and issues this Friday


Joan Becker ... Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon and the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Nursing Council are welcoming Joan C. Becker for a public presentation at the Waukon High School auditorium this Friday, April 6. Becker is the author of the book “Sentenced to Life: Mental Illness, Tragedy, and Transformation.”

It was Becker’s son, Mark, who was responsible for the June 2009 tragedy in Parkersburg, when legendary Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas was shot and killed. Her presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. The presentation is open to the entire community, free of charge.

In her book “Sentenced to Life,” Becker explains how her personal family experience served as the catalyst for her to become an advocate and public speaker for individuals with mental illness. Her focus is to open the doors and promote change in the mental health system currently in place. She speaks regularly to colleges, churches, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) groups, high schools, communities and mental health service providers.

Becker lives in Iowa with her husband of 39 years, David Becker. They have three sons, Brad (Jackie), Scott (Nikki) and Mark. She and her husband believe God wants them to share their family’s story about their son, Mark, and the experience their family had of coping with Paranoid Schizophrenia in the hope that it will help other families, caregivers and professionals understand how they can make a difference in moving forward and improving the mental health system.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Nursing Council contracted Becker for this public presentation last fall, setting the date for April 6, all with the intention of doing something for the community to help with common mental health issues.

“We are so excited to have Joan coming to Waukon to share her story,” states Corinne Cook, RN, VMH Nursing Council. “Little did we know when we contracted her that she would be following the Aaron Thomas presentation (March 13). This is incredible timing and we are so happy to be able to offer something helpful to the community to support the common mental health issues that we see.”

This presentation will last approximately one hour, with additional time for questions from those attending. For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.