It's OK Not to Be OK

In this episode, we're talking to Michael Smith, executive director of the Greater Valdosta United Way (GVUW), and Emily Anne Vall, PhD., executive director of Resilient Georgia, about Georgia's escalating mental health challenges.

Before COVID-19, mental health issues like anger, stress, worry, and depression were rising globally. 

According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, more than 1.4 million adults in Georgia have a mental health condition. 

Consider by many health professionals as the "new pandemic," in 2021, 44% of adults in Georgia reported having symptoms of anxiety or depression, with 29% unable to receive counseling or therapy. 

Part of a regional coalition, the GVUW received a grant from Resilient Georgia to increase mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and promote behavioral health services for children and adults within 10 South Georgia counties. 

What you'll learn in this episode 

· How Resilient Georgia is building a statewide coalition of public-private partnerships to prevent and heal childhood adversity, highlight trauma-informed awareness and care, and promote resilience among children and adults. 

· Domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking were a concern before the pandemic; however, high levels of isolation and financial stress have put a "magnifying glass" to these issues and more. 

· GVUW is sponsoring awareness training programs for first-responders and healthcare workers to build awareness and training that will better support children and adults coping with adversity and trauma. 

· How to guide the conversation that "It's OK not to be OK."

· The lack of mental health professionals in Georgia is a statewide crisis, especially in rural communities. According to a report by the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation, within Georgia's 159 counties:

• 150 are considered to have a mental health professional shortage
• Approximately 77 counties have no full-time psychiatrists
• 52 counties have no licensed social worker
• 60 counties have no pediatricians

 Visit the Resilient Georgia website to register for its newsletter and receive more information focused on:

• Interactive training opportunities: https://www.resilientga.org/trainingroadmapResilient Georgia’s 16 region coalition: https://www.resilientga.org/regional-coalitions
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) prevention:  https://www.resilientga.org/_files/ugd/08ae45_dac5c65d288a4e22a0aca536fc17604e.pdf

 Join us next time as we continue to promote South Georgia as a great place to live, work, play, and visit.

 Thanks to our sponsor Smalltown Broadcasting and WDDQ, home of the Scott James Matheson Show, where you can listen to live from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday on Talk 92.1 http://talk921.com/ or through the TuneIn app https://tunein.com/radio/Talk-921

Spencer Van Horn, Smalltown Broadcasting, produces South Georgia Insider.