Clarke County Mental Health Town Hall

Clarke County schools hold Mental Health Town Hall to expand support and awareness

The Clarke County School District hosted a Mental Health Town Hall on April 28 at Clarke  Middle School. They focused on expanding mental health services, promoting wellness awareness and strengthening community partnerships to support student and family needs.

The event began at 5:30 p.m. bringing  together school officials,  mental health professionals and community members. Fran Thompson, a CCSD mental wellness specialist, led the presentation, outlining the district's current service model and future initiatives.

"Mental health doesn't often happen all at once," Thompson said. "You can always reach out for support in our community, and any care givers can reach out for support at our schools."

Thompson explained that CCSD provides brief, solution-focused therapeutic support though a network of school counselors, mental health counselors, social workers and mental wellness specialists. The district also partners with local agencies to extend care beyond campus.

She highlighted staff training programs that include Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) , the PREPaRE crisis preparedness curriculum, as well as the trauma-informed care and self-care workshops. These trainings are designed to equip educators with the skills to respond effectively to students in crisis

Community support is a key component of CCSD's mental health strategy. Partnerships with organizations like Advantage Behavioral Health Systems and Kate's Club — which supports children experiencing grief— allow for expanded services. Additionally, the ACCESS Grant Partnership with the University of Georgia places eight graduate students across schools t provide mental health counseling.

The meeting also featured a panel moderated by Executive Director of Student and Family Support Tessa Barbazon. Audience members submitted questions to a panel of mental health experts, including, Kizzy Wingfield of Cedar Shoals High School, Dr. Issa Bagayogo of The Olive Space Psychiatry, bilingual therapist Claudia Ravenell, CCSD Director of School Social Work Chrystal Gillis and Advantage Behavioral Health's Anna Story.

During the panel, Ravenell said her goal was to break the stigma of mental health and to normalize asking others for help.  As a Spanish speaker, she hopes to provide more access for Latinx that face difficulty bridging the culture gaps.

Thompson closed the event by detailing the district's next steps. This involves expanding group counseling, increasing staff development in mental health, and continuing outreach through events like the Free Your Feels campaign and the Mental Health 5K.

She also shared five key takeaways for caregivers: ensure children get enough sleep, build social connections, encourage physical activity and seek professional help when concerns arise.

Director of School Counseling and District 504 Coordinator Veronica Johnson opened the town hall by welcoming attendees and introducing CCSD's mental health staff. Thompson ended the evening by thanking caregivers, partners and media for their participation and support.