Mental health awareness week to kick off May 3

April 29--TIFTON -- In support of mental health awareness, Behavioral Health Services of South Georgia Tifton office, along with the Sigma Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., will celebrate its third annual meet and greet from 9 a.m. to noonMay 2 in their parking lot. The business is located at 334 Tifton-Eldorado Road.

This free event for the public will be held as part of the kick off for National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, which begins May 3.

Mental Illness Awareness Week is a national observance established by Congress in 1990 to promote awareness and understanding of mental health, as well as addictive diseases, for children and adults, says Tift County Manager Angeanette McCall Nixon.

She said the focus for this year is reducing the stigma of having a mental illness, as well as the stigma associated with accessing services. On May 2, they plan to have a carnival and "beat the stigma" walk for both kids and adults with bouncy houses, food and health and wellness activities.

"Mental health awareness is very essential to the children in our community and their families," says McCall.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report, an estimated 24.6 million individuals age 12 or older were current illicit drug users in 2013, including 2.2 million adolescents age 12 to 17. In 2013, 60.1 million individuals age 12 or older were past month binge drinkers, including 1.6 million adolescents. Of the estimated 22.7 million individuals age 12 or older in 2013 who needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, 2.5 million received treatment at a specialty facility.

Also, in 2013, about 1 in 10 adolescents (10.7 percent) had a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. Among adolescents with MDE, 38.1 percent received treatment or counseling for depression in the past year. Additionally, in 2013, nearly 1 in 5 adults age 18 or older (18.5 percent) had a mental illness in the past year; 4.2 percent had a serious mental illness; and 3.9 percent had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.

For more information about the event or to participate, contact Keena Andrews or Hayden Nelms at 229-391-2300.

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