The Grapevine Center in Butler is sponsoring two mental health workshops by Daniel B. Fisher, PhD., to raise awareness about mental health and to provide leadership skills.

The first will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 19 at the Grapevine Center, 140 N. ElmSt. This free workshop will focus on leadership training about mental health issues.

Bette Peoples, director of the Grapevine Center, said by raising awareness and understanding of mental health, people with mental diseases can lead more productive lives.

The second workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 at St. Peter's Church, 127 Franklin St. Tom Franz, director of the Center for Community Resources will emcee the event.

"These workshops are important to the community in understanding mental health," he said. "It affects every sector of the community, without discrimination."

He said it's important to remove the stigma associated with mental health, pointing out that it's a treatable illness and should not be seen as a negative that someone is forced to live with.

Fisher is executive director of the National Empowerment Center of Lawrence, Mass., a consumer-run research, training, and information center that he helped found in 1992 to educate the public on mental health and view it in a positive light to help people recover. He is a former patient, having recovered from schizophrenia.

For information or to make a reservation, contact Peoples at the Grapevine Center at 724-283-1704.

CRANBERRY TWP — This event will be hosted by UPMC Passavant and UPMC Passavant Cranberry.• 9 to 11 a.m. May 15, seminar "Stroke: Advances in Care," will discuss risk factors and symptoms of strokes, prevention and treatment of strokes, and a demonstration of the equipment used at UPMC Passavant and UPMC Passavant Cranberry. The seminar is geared for caregivers of stroke patients. Registration is required by calling 412-367-6643.