Week 2 – Organizations Working in Prevention

GMHCN for Change

The last organization we want to highlight this wk is Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network. The GMHCN believes in the ability of everyone living with mental health concerns to enjoy lives of purpose, meaning, productivity, and wellness. Since it was founded in 1991, this grassroots nonprofit organization has been led and run by mental health peers—people in mental health recovery. GMHCN has evolved into a statewide organization of over 100 employees engaged in advocacy, education, training, and peer support services for the people of Georgia.

GMHCN is recognized as a national leader in the peer support movement. At its core, the basis of peer support—one person using their lived experience to support another—is not new; in fact, it is the basis of human growth and development. Mental health peers with special training are now able to use their lived recovery experience in clinical settings to provide something beyond a diagnosis or medication. We provide the evidence that we can and do recover from our mental health challenges. We provide skills, tools, and above all, hope.

GMHCN offers a Georgia Crisis & Access Line 24/7 at 1(800) 715-4225.

Nami Georgia for Change

The mission of NAMI Georgia is to empower affiliates to create communities where all affected by mental illness find hope, help, and acceptance through support, education, and advocacy. Across the state of Georgia, hundreds of trained volunteer leaders and 18+ local affiliates work together to provide peerled education programs, support groups, presentations, and trainings to a variety of communities and groups. NAMI programs are provided at no-cost to participants.

The goal of NAMI is to advocate at the county, state and national levels for non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare, housing , education and employment for people with mental illness. Educate the public about mental illness. Work to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. Advocate for increased funding for research into the causes and treatment of mental illness. For information about this great organization go to https://namiga.org/about-nami-georgia/.

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or dial 911. The Crisis Text Line for Georgia is Text GA to 741741, this is a free 24/7 text line for people in crisis.

World Suicide Prevention Day

September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. In honor of this day, V4P will be screening the ‘S Word’ a film directed by Lisa Klein supporting suicide prevention. This movie is not available for public viewing and only be seen through our virtual screening event. This film is about a suicide attempt survivor “on a mission to find fellow survivors and document their stories of unguarded courage, insight, pain, and humor.” The screening for the S Word will be at 6pm. Click the button below to RSVP. We can’t wait to see you at the screening!

The Georgia Chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has been doing amazing work for suicide prevention for years. So it is no surprise that AFSP is our 5th organization to be highlighted on World Suicide Prevention Day. The Georgia chapter focuses on eliminating the loss of life from suicide in Georgia by: delivering innovative prevention programs, educating the public about risk factors and warning signs, raising funds for suicide research and programs, and reaching out to those individuals who have lost someone to suicide. To find out more information about AFSP initiatives go to https://afsp.org/chapter/georgia

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or dial 911. The Crisis Text Line for Georgia is Text GA to 741741, this is a free 24/7 text line for people in crisis.

Mental Health America of Georgia

Mental Health America of Georgia or MHA of GA is the primary resource of choice for prevention and early intervention programs, with information, education, and training in mental health and wellness. MHA of GA maintains a strong and viable organization to deliver their mission of an increased mental wellness for Georgians, and advance our vision of mental health. They also influence policy change through education and advocacy, with focus on a individual’s right to live an independent and fulfilling life. For more informaiton you can go to https://www.mhageorgia.org/.

IAMHOLDENON INC. (IAHO) is an Atlanta based nonprofit arts organization that produces content to uplift the human spirit. IAMHOLDENON creates entertaining and educational content to uplift the human spirit. Our upcoming mental wellness documentary series, HOPE GIVERS, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, will highlight hope and resilience across Georgia. We screened our series to 500 educators across the State of Georgia – 98% believe our series will help save young lives. Suicide prevention to IAHO means listening, creating partnerships, and advocating for mandatory mental education in schools in the same manner as we require physical education. To learn more go to https://iamholdenon.org/ .

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or dial 911. The Crisis Text Line for Georgia is Text GA to 741741, this is a free 24/7 text line for people in crisis.

The Trevor Project & He Is Valuable

SPAN GA & The Yellow Elephant

The Trevor Project is a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. The Trevor Project was founded more than two decades ago to respond to a public health crisis impacting LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project provides suicide prevention trainings and resources to anyone who requests. To find out more about The Trevor Project go to https://www.thetrevorproject.org/about/programs-services/.

He Is Valuable is another great organization doing great work with suicide prevention in Georgia. He Is Valuable, Inc. (HIV, Inc.) was founded in 2015 by Richard A. Hutchinson, Jr. and Kendall T. Boone, Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia. Through our HIS Program (He Is Supported) He Is Valuable, inc navigates Black Queer Men to Mental Health Services and Resources. This work is carried out through using our HIS Hotline number that members can call anything to get assistance in their times of need including in times of suicidal thoughts and ideations. The HIS Hotline phone number is 404-992-5104.

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or dial 911. The Crisis Text Line for Georgia is Text GA to 741741, this is a free 24/7 text line for people in crisis.

Organization Highlight – SPAN GA & The Yellow Elephant

SPAN GA & The Yellow Elephant

The next organizations we are highlighting during National Suicide Prevention Week are SPAN GA & The Yellow Elephant. Suicide Prevention Action Network, Georgia (SPAN-GA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preventing suicide through public education, awareness, community action, and local grassroots advocacy. Their organization was created to raise awareness, build political will and promote the call for action with regard to creating, advancing, implementing and evaluating a state strategy to address suicide in Georgia. SPAN GA work is guided by our underlying priorities: advancing public policy, organizing communities, supporting and engaging survivors, and breaking stigma.

The Yellow Elephant is a non-profit orgnaization located in Georgia. Their mission is to educate, encourage, and support individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, mental illness, and related issues and their loved ones by creating safe environments where love, appreciation, knowledge, feelings, and thoughts can be freely shared without judgment. For more information about upcoming initiatives and events with The Yellow Elephant go to https://theyellowelephant.org/.

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or dial 911. The Crisis Text Line for Georgia is Text GA to 741741, this is a free 24/7 text line for people in crisis.

Organization Highlight – DBHDD

Organization Highlight - DBHDD

Throughout Georgia there are organizations fighting for change daily within suicide prevention. For National Suicide Prevention week, we intend to highlight just a few of these amazing organizations. The first organization we will highlight is The Division of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). The DBHDD has a Suicide Prevention Program located within the Georgia in the Division of Behavioral Health, Office of Behavioral Health Prevention (OBHP). Through a multi-faceted approach of suicide prevention trainings, public policy, evidence-based interventions, and postvention strategies, the Suicide Prevention team works with government agencies, behavioral health organizations, community partners, non-profit organizations, educators, clinicians, and law enforcement to mitigate suicide attempts and suicide deaths in our state.

DBHDD has even created a 2020-2025 Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan that will serve as a guiding light for everyone in our great state who is passionate about suicide prevention. For more information about the program and the strategic plan go to https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/bh-prevention/suicide-prevention

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or dial 911. The Crisis Text Line for Georgia is Text GA to 741741, this is a free 24/7 text line for people in crisis.