THOMASVILLE — Georgia Pines Community Service Board, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), is hosting a Mental Health Awareness Fair in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month on May 8, at Georgia Pines, located on Woodlands Blvd.
Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has aimed to increase the importance of mental wellness and celebrate recovery from mental illness.
Georgia Pines, a mental health, intellectual/developmental, and addictive diseases service, aims to do just that during its fair, when it comes together with local organizations and individuals to provide resources, relaxation activities, interactive wellness booths, and personal testimonies of overcoming mental illness through treatment and medication to help reduce the stigma and show individuals they are not alone in their disease.
“We really just want to connect with the community and show them we are here to help with any type of mental illness or just provide them with any other resources they may need,” said Kellie Dix, the Mental Health Team Leader of Thomas County for Georgia Pines.
Various programs of Georgia Pines will be on display for individuals and families to speak with, including their inpatient and outpatient programs.
Georgia Pines boasts three short-term stabilization programs, including The Phoenix, Robert’s Place, and HillTop.
During the time spent in the inpatient facilities, residents can also seek outpatient treatment from Georgia Pines, including family and individual therapy, crisis intervention, and services from doctors and nurses.
Georgia Pines does not just service adults, as they also run the APEX Program, which is a school-based mental health program that involves the development of partnerships between community-based provider agencies and the school system.
The APEX Program currently serves six school districts and 37 schools. It has provided more than 18,000 services to children and adolescents and 790 crisis interventions.
Individuals in attendance can also speak with one of Georgia Pines’ co-responders, who are partnered with surrounding policing agencies to respond to a mental health call.
Co-responders are currently based in Thomas, Mitchell, Decatur, and Colquitt Counties.
Dix hopes the Mental Health Awareness Fair will help not only bring these programs to light, but also show that there is a future for those living with a mental illness.
“This will be a great event for people to see a successful person with a mental illness, who has been treated, living a full life,” Dix said. “A lot of people don’t get to see that. They only see them in their detriment.”
However, this fair will show the many success stories of those who have gone on to serve in leadership roles and play active roles in the community since their diagnosis.
“My goal is for it to touch someone,” Dix said. “I want them to see that they did it, so I can do it too.”
Nicole Cromer, the Clinical Director of Georgia Pines, reminded that the fair isn’t just for those who currently struggle with a mental illness, as most everyone will come into contact with somebody diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their life.
“You may feel more equipped for the situation if you know what resources are available to people,” Cromer said.
She also explained that by attending, those struggling feel as if they have found an ally, and can have a conversation when they normally wouldn’t due to fear of rejection.
“There are a lot of people suffering in silence because they don’t want to lose friends or family, or feel like they may lose friends or family if they say ‘hey, I have this problem,’” Cromer said. “Having events like this shows you’re not alone, and we can walk this journey with you.”
To begin walking this journey with friends and family members, join Georgia Pines on May 8, from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Georgia Pines Community Service Board, located at 252 Woodlands Blvd.
