KELLY WESSELMAN: Albany youths have places to go for mental health help

A bright mural of water birds stands out near a busy Gillionville Road intersection. Bold black words — “Life is Good” — state the credo behind the doors in the building that displays the mural.

The mural is on the side of The Clubhouse, an innovative, statewide program designed to strengthen the resilience of young people facing mental, emotional and behavioral health issues.

Southwest Georgia has resources to assist with the mental health needs of young people. Determining how to access these programs and when to seek help is the challenge.

A 2019 statewide survey on mental health needs asked if people were familiar with the state’s crisis helpline. In the Albany region, 61% said no. Asked if they knew about a school-based mental health program called Apex, 71% said no.

Programs like The Clubhouse are trying to make a difference. The Clubhouse is operated by Aspire, the agency that provides public mental health services in eight counties.

Marlon Jones, who has 20 years of experience in youth mental health, manages Albany’s after-school program. Lee and Early counties also have sites. Since the programs began in 2011, the three counties have served “250 unique individuals” each year, Jones said.

Located at 321 William Jr. St., The Clubhouse takes a holistic approach by also addressing the needs of a child’s parents.

Albany is the program’s main hub. Its state-of-the-art facility has a lounge area to play video games, a modern dining room with a homey kitchen area, and a posh auditorium where students graduate after completing the eight-month program.

Several mental health service programs for young adults are housed at The Clubhouse. Children in the after-school program have the convenience of seeing their psychiatrists and therapists under one roof.

To access services, walk-ins are welcome. Those seeking help on the same day must fill out a referral form on Wednesdays, from 8 a.m.-noon. No formal referral is necessary. The Clubhouse does have several community partners, including DFACS, Department of Juvenile Justice and the Dougherty County School System.

The best site to reach young people is at school, Jones said.

The Dougherty County School System has 13,000 students. Tiffany Kennedy is the director of student support and empowerment.

“They spend most of their lives in school, so it’s just a perfect opportunity to provide care so they can succeed academically,” she said.

The school system has community partners like Aspire and Albany Area Primary Health Care to provide services in schools. A $5 million grant this year will fund social workers in each school and create a new partnership with Fidelity, a nationwide counseling service, Kennedy said.

As far as accessing these resources, she said, each school has its own process. Generally, the process begins when a teacher refers a student to a counselor, who may contact Aspire. A parent’s permission is required to take any further action.

When parents recognize their child is struggling, they can reach out to school counselors, social workers, administrators or teachers, Kennedy said.

The school system is trying a new approach to help students advocate for themselves. Besides a friend to confide in, “It’s important to have someone to talk to, not just a friend, but a (trusted) adult,” Kennedy said.

The warning signs that a teen is in distress can be confusing.

Dr. Ken DiNella works with young people in his private practice, at the Methodist Home for Children, and Morningstar Children & Family in Albany.

“A lot of the kids are not in a lot of distress. A lot have ADHD and problems in schools,” DiNella said.

Problems to look out for are changes in the friends they hang out with, skipping school, excessive suspensions, and isolating themselves from their families.

In both children and young people, aggression is a red flag. If a child has a tantrum lasting more than 45 minutes, that behavior is of concern, DiNella said.

Aspire handouts urge parents not to diagnose. Instead, those who have concerns about their child’s mental health are urged to call Aspire for a referral at (229) 430-5100.

The most serious sign that a young person is in trouble is a suicidal attempt or gesture. According to a NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) fact sheet, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people ages 10-24 in Georgia.

“Usually with suicide, they’ll make some attempts before they do it. Often they don’t tell an adult but they’ll tell a friend,” DiNella said. “Getting together the means to commit suicide is another warning sign.”

Suicidal thoughts are very common, but he said if a young person is getting professional help, they are less likely to attempt suicide.

DiNella said he sees young people at their worst. When they come through his door, he said, he knows it’s only going to get better.

“Doctors tend to put their faith in the medicine, but contact with people is important as well,” the counselor said. “Touching base with someone is important.”

Young people offer the best hope for the future of their own mental health wellness. At a recent youth summit on mental health at the Flint RiverQuarium, about 200 Albany young people attended.

A newly formed 15-member coalition of students from across Dougherty County organized the festival. Young people enjoyed the view from the RiverQuarium’s balcony, feasted on fruit and barbeque, and got informed about peer pressure, suicide prevention, and other mental health issues during panel discussions.

Children of all ages are getting involved in mental health awareness. This weekend, several kids from the after-school program at The Clubhouse walked with NAMI Albany in Albany State University’s Homecoming Parade.

Stomping out mental health stigma and getting on with their lives is a positive for young and old alike.

If you or someone you know is suicidal or in a crisis, dial 9-8-8.