We encourage you to attend "After Newtown: A Community Conversation on Mental Health and Public Safety," sponsored by Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Bellingham High School Auditorium, 2020 Cornwall Ave.

Parents, educators, mental health experts, law enforcement officials and concerned citizens are invited to come together to learn how to recognize those who are struggling with serious mental health issues and increase awareness of the many local resources that exist to help them.

In collaboration with area experts, The Bellingham Herald Opinion page will focus on these issues this year. We hope to meet more people interested in exploring this topic at the Feb. 19 event.

Participants at the forum include Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo; Sterling Chick, children's mental health manager for Catholic Community Services; Dave Reynolds, juvenile probation and detention administrator for Whatcom County Superior Court, and David Sager, crisis services director at Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic.

Reach JULIE SHIRLEY at julie.shirley@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2261.