CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center to celebrate 50th anniversary Wednesday

Aiken Standard (SC) - 7/13/2015

July 13--The Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center is inviting the public to join in the festivities while it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding Wednesday.

Free mental health screenings will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mental Health Center's main office in Aiken, the Hartzog Center in North Augusta and the Polly Best Center in Barnwell. Free mental health goody bags also will be distributed.

In addition, mayoral proclamations will be read at all three facilities at 11:45 a.m. Light refreshments will be served afterward from noon to 1 p.m.

"Fifty years is a milestone," said Richard Acton, executive director of the Mental Health Center. "It is not only an occasion to celebrate our service history, but also a golden opportunity to chart our path forward with supporting the recovery of persons with mental illness. We are thankful to our stakeholders, clients, community partners and employees who have contributed to our mission in various ways. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and work towards building healthy communities."

The creation of the Mental Health Center in July 1965 was a result of the Community Mental Health Center Act of 1963, which then President John F. Kennedy signed prior to his assassination.

The purpose of the act was to provide mental health services in local communities as an alternative to warehousing mentally ill people in hospitals and institutions.

The Mental Health Center's main office in Aiken is at 1135 Gregg Highway.

The North Augusta-based Hartzog Center is at 431 West Martintown Road.

The Barnwell-based Polly Best Center is at 919 Reynolds Road.

For more information about the Mental Health Center, go online and visit www.state.sc.us/dmh/ab/.

Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter.

___

(c)2015 the Aiken Standard (Aiken, S.C.)

Visit the Aiken Standard (Aiken, S.C.) at www.aikenstandard.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.