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MHMR to celebrate 50 years of mental health services

San Angelo Standard-Times (TX) - 6/4/2016

June 04--MHMR Services for the Concho Valley is celebrating 50 years of providing mental health services to Tom Green and six surrounding counties.

The center -- which was established in 1966 and is the Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority for Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Reagan, Tom Green and Sterling counties -- was "one of the very first centers in Texas," said Executive Director Gregory J. Rowe.

El Paso's center is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and the center in Harris County celebrated 50 years last year, he said.

In some form or fashion, the Concho Valley center each month serves about 500 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 480 adults and 322 children with mental health issues -- but that does not include all the crisis calls staff goes out to, Rowe said.

The center employs 208 full- and part-time staff members who help with an array of services to meet the needs of people with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism.

In 2014, the center brought in autism treatment services with its ABC Center for Children, Rowe said, which is a contracted provider for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services'Focused ABA Treatment. Twenty-one children are receiving services, he said.

In February the center began celebrating its lengthy history of service by participating in the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Parade with a float theme of "Roping in 50 years of Services." In April it formed a team for a Helping Hands Project. Staff members committed 50 hours to the project but instead reached 163 hours and helped renovate an elderly man's home, he said.

MHMR is hosting a celebratory dinner with live music at 7 p.m.June 17 at McNease Convention Center, 501 Rio Concho Drive.

"This is our big event where we're trying to plan and have a celebration," Rowe said. "And what we wanted to try and do is have a celebration event but also community awareness" about mental health.

Author Kevin Hines will speak about his life at the event. Hines was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 17 and two years later attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one of 46 survivors of an estimated 2,000 who have jumped from the bridge, MHMR stated in a news release.

The event is $25 per person and will begin with a book signing by Hines at 6 p.m., followed by hors d'oeuvres and music by local band Jeska Bailey and the Platform Souls. Tickets for the event may be purchased at MHMR, 1501 W. Beauregard Ave., or by calling Frances Salter at 325-658-7750.

"I think it will be a nice celebration," Rowe said. "Fifty years is important."

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(c)2016 the San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas)

Visit the San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) at www.gosanangelo.com

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