United Way summit to bring attention to youth suicide, mental health
File Photo: Alan Mauldin
From staff reports
ALBANY — The Youth United — Teen Mental Health Coalition will welcome local teens to the “You Matter! Teen Summit” as the culmination of a month’s worth of programming on suicide prevention and youth mental health.
The free summit, which will be held on Saturday from 6-8 p.m. at the Flint RiverQuarium in Albany, is a youth-led event featuring mental health professionals, live performances, a DJ, food, stress-relieving activities and more, all geared toward raising awareness about the mental health and suicide prevention resources available to teens in the south Georgia area.
The sponsor, Youth United — Teen Mental Health Coalition, is part of the United Way of Southwest Georgia and is funded by Albany’s Department of Community & Economic Development. The teen-led initiative focuses on education, innovation, service provision and collaborative action. The key to its success is peer-to-peer interaction, coupled with providing mental health awareness to the community at large.
Youth United also taps into the unique perspective, passion and skills fostered by the Family Wellness Outreach Center of Georgia, which are rooted in the Five Pillars of Resilience including problem-solving skills, decision-making, healthy relationships and self-esteem. The You Matter! Teen Summit represents the coalition’s dedication to community outreach and education, with an emphasis on resilience as part of the mental health journey.
“The summit and the coalition both focus on resilience,” Philip Gentry of the United Way of Southwest Georgia said. “Individuals lacking resilience get easily overwhelmed and may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Resilient people tap into their strengths and support systems to overcome challenges and work through problems. This is what we want for the young people in southwest Georgia.”
The event is free and open to all teens and community members. Registration is encouraged but not required. Contact Philip Gentry at United Way of Southwest Georgia at [email protected] or (229) 883-6700 with questions.
For more than 65 years, United Way of Southwest Georgia has been an innovative force in the community, successfully responding to emerging needs and transforming people’s lives. The organization’s current work is focused on education, financial stability and health — the building blocks for a good life.
United Way of Southwest Georgia serves a geographic territory of 13 counties including Baker, Calhoun, Crisp, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Mitchell, Randolph, Sumter, Terrell, Wilcox and Worth. To learn more, visit http://www.unitedwayswga.org.
Author
Related Articles
That ATV you drive around might not be legal. Edison, GA, looks into passing local ordinances
The use of golf carts, UTVs and ATVs and low speed vehicles has grown in popularity in recent years. Some cities have specific ordinances, allowing these different vehicles. Others, like Edison, never developed any local laws to address them, but Edison Councilman Curtis Adams said he’s noticed more and more on the streets. This prompted discussion on potential ordinances during Edison’s council meeting,
Arlington business owner accuses Police Department of failing to make arrests for repeated robberies
An Arlington business owner plans to close two of his businesses in the city next Wednesday in protest of what he said is “unequal protection under the law.”
No. 2-ranked Calhoun County wins thriller over Monroe, 63-60
The No. 2-ranked Calhoun County Cougars (8-0) remained undefeated Friday night with a hard-fought 63-60 victory over Monroe in front of a packed home crowd in Edison.
