Local organizations come together to talk about mental health

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – On Saturday, a dozen organizations in South Bend came out to try and change the narrative surrounding mental illness.

At an event that took place at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, people who attended said that there is not enough awareness when it comes to mental health.

“We have people that feel like if they go get a mental health assessment someone’s going to think they’re crazy or they can’t take care of themselves and that's not the case,” Marla Godette said, Director of Programming for Hanna’s House.

Officials said that partnering with churches and other religious entities is a big step in raising awareness.

Ultimately, their goal is to end the stigmatization of mental illness.

“Churches have to understand that it’s really important that they allow people to be free to speak about their mental health issues,” Godette said.

Organizers of the event hope that people will be better equipped to discuss mental health and pass along what they have learned to their friends and family.

Organizations that participated in Saturday’s event included:

The Coalition of 100 Black Women -South Bend Chapter

Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph County

Excel Center - Adult High School

Oaklawn Psychiatric Center

Meridian Health Services

Michiana Behavioral Center

Bowen Center

Gamma Phi Delta Sorority Inc., Epsilon Delta chapter

NYAP - National Youth Advocate Program

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church

Meridian Health Services

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