BELLINGHAM - Recognizing the signs of mental illness and helping people before they threaten public safety will be the focus of a Tuesday, Feb. 19, event in Bellingham.

The local event is being organized by Whatcom Counseling & Psychiatric Clinic. It grows out of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"We want to make very clear this is about the mental health aspects of Newtown. This is not about guns. That's a whole different conversation," said Dave Kleiber, president of the board of directors for the nonprofit clinic.

The free event, which is open to the public, is 7 p.m. at Bellingham High School Auditorium, 2020 Cornwall Ave.

Participants 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 for Whatcom Counseling & Psychiatric Clinic.

Reach KIE RELYEA at kie.relyea@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2234.