WWU's Finlay to answer questions from public about how genetics affect mental health

Janet Finlay, director of the Behavioral Neuroscience Program at Western Washington University, will take audience questions on mental health and genetics at the monthly Neuroscience on Tap gathering at Bob's Burgers & Brew in downtown Bellingham.

Finlay, an associate professor of psychology at WWU, says these regular gatherings are a great way for community members to get answers to common problems from faculty members. In addition to the host, a number of faculty members typically attend these informal meetings, she says.

The theme for the meeting tonight, Dec. 7, is "Mental Illness in your Genes." Finlay says she expects questions like "My father had schizophrenia; what is the likelihood that I or my children will have it?" and "Depression runs in my family; what can I do to prepare for it and fight against it?"

The meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Bob's Burgers & Brew, 202 E. Holly St. in downtown Bellingham.

Regular monthly meetings occur on the first Monday of each month. At each meeting, a faculty member leads the discussion of a specific topic, from mental illness to food addiction to brain injury. The location for these meetings is now a private upstairs room at Bob’s Burgers & Brew.

For more information on this event, contact Coco Besson, WWU Behavioral Neuroscience program coordinator, at (360) 650-2148 or at coco.besson@wwu.edu. Additional program information can also be found at http://www.wwu.edu/neuroscience/.