special to The Star



May is National Mental Health Month, and Weems Community Mental Health Center is helping to promote the national observance by conducting outreach and awareness programs for area churches and organizations.

Weems can provide a speaker for an informal presentation at churches, clubs, employers and organizations about mental health-related topics, including children’s mental health, recognizing and treating emotional and behavioral problems, drug and alcohol prevention education, positive parenting and related issues.

“So often, people will say, ‘I didn’t know Weems offered that service,’ or ‘When my family member needed help, I didn’t know what to do,’” said Amy Bishop, director of alcohol and drug services at Weems Community Mental Health Center. “This is a chance to talk both about the prevalence of mental health issues for children, adolescents and adults and to inform people about ways to get help, including local support groups.”

Bishop also said another important part of the outreach is to talk to people about the stigma associated with mental health problems.

“That stigma hurts everyone, especially when it keeps individuals from seeking help for treatable mental health problems,” said Bishop. “We’re participating in a national anti-stigma campaign, and this outreach is one way we’re spreading that message.”

Weems served more than 10,000 individuals in the last fiscal year. The community mental health center, which serves nine counties in East Central Mississippi, uses a treatment team approach to provide a full spectrum of outpatient services for children, adolescents and adults. In addition, Weems provides a 30-day residential treatment program, Weems LifeCare, for alcohol and drug abuse treatment, and also a 10-week Intensive Outpatient Program for substance use disorders.

To schedule a presentation call Pace Cooke Emmons, public relations director, at (601) 483-4821 or e-mail her at pcemmons@weemsmh.com. For more information on mental health month, including information on stress management, recognizing depression, children’s mental health and more, visit www.weemsmh.com.