May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, recognizing those living with mental or behavioral health issues and aiming to reduce stigmas surrounding these common experiences. Part of that process is educating metro Atlanta communities on mental health crises and providing them with ways to help. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
Claratel Behavioral Health, until recently the DeKalb Community Service Board, is a public, nonprofit organization located in Atlanta. It serves more than 11,000 uninsured and underinsured patients each year — children, teens and adults with mental and behavioral health challenges, developmental disabilities and substance abuse issues.
Claratel is the largest behavioral health provider in DeKalb County; the largest bed capacity crisis center in metro Atlanta; and the only designated behavioral health crisis center in Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties. Claratel Behavioral Health’s growth includes a new $25 million crisis center, to be partially funded by the SPLOST approved in the November 2023 election.
Advocating for comprehensive healthcare on all levels is vital to aiding in the mental health crisis. With the common coexistence of mental health disorders, chronic health disorders and substance use disorders, a comprehensive approach to healthcare must address mental health.
The State of Mental Health Treatment in Metro Atlanta
- Atlanta and Georgia are in desperate need of accessible mental health resources. Georgia has no large-scale, state-funded transitional bed facilities that can provide clinical and residential services once someone is discharged from a crisis stabilization unit.
- These people are instead sent to their homes, shelters or limited recovery housing without transitional residential treatment.
- Claratel’s new crisis center will help remedy this issue by offering a 24-bed transitional therapeutic residential program.
Community Connections
- Claratel’s board members are selected by DeKalb County’s CEO and approved by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Each board member is a DeKalb County resident with a unique perspective on mental health, substance use disorder and developmental disabilities.
- Claratel is a longtime leader in partnering with law enforcement to better help individuals experiencing crises. For 30 years, Claratel has grown a co-responder program with DeKalb County Police, through which a mobile crisis unit with a clinician and a police officer intervenes and evaluates individuals to determine the best way to help them.
- In 2023, Claratel expanded its co-responder program by establishing agreements with the Cities of Dunwoody, Doraville, Decatur and Tucker.
How to Help Yourself and Others
- Educate yourself on mental health, including the specific mental health challenges faced by teenagers, seniors, minorities, men, women and the LGBTQ community, and how each of us can support these groups.
- Understand the impact that mental health conditions have on the physical, emotional and mental well-being of children, families and communities, and help to overcome the stigma around mental health conditions.
- Share free mental health support resources from NAMI, mental health clinics like Claratel, counseling centers, support groups and crisis hotlines.
- Implement strategies to help you be your best you: get regular exercise, eat a balanced diet, get adequate sleep, find time for yourself, stay positive and seek professional help when you need it.
Ted Terry, DeKalb County Super District 6 Commissioner, recently said: “With the growing population of DeKalb County and Metro Atlanta as a whole, there is an increased strain on our existing mental health resources. It’s our duty as county officials to expand those resources, which is why I will continue to advocate for mental health funding by supporting initiatives like the new crisis center.”
Mental Health Awareness Month brings light to the disparities in mental health care across the board but also focuses on the organizations dedicated to tackling the mental health crisis in metro Atlanta and across the U.S. Claratel stands at the forefront of mental health treatment in Atlanta, offering critical services and leading initiatives to bridge gaps in care and reduce the stigma around mental health.
By educating ourselves, advocating for comprehensive healthcare, and supporting organizations like Claratel, we can all play a part in fostering mental wellness and building a more supportive community for everyone.
