Mental Health: You Don’t Do It Alone

JP2 Supporting Youth at Mindfulness and Wellbeing Expo

by Ann Marie Kennon photo courtesy Hon. Angela Williams

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND PRECINCT 2 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE ANGELA WILLIAMS ORGANIZED A PUBLIC EVENT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HELP AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FACING CHALLENGES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH.

The free Mindfulness and Wellbeing Expo, held at the Cedar Park Recreation Center May 9, was an opportunity for the community to come together and raise awareness about the importance of wellness. Judge Williams says it was just the first step—her office aims to continue empowering young people to prioritize mental health and seek help when they need it.

As a long-time mentor and advocate for young people, and after just four months on the bench, Judge Williams was inspired to take a proactive step for students and families in Precinct 2. The event provided a platform and access for individuals to engage in discussions with professionals and providers about a variety of options and solutions.

Mentorship To Mental Health

Judge Williams says she typically has compassion for the individuals who appear before her for truancy and minor misdemeanors and she relishes any opportunity to talk about what is going on in their lives. “I explain that yes, I am a judge and there are consequences for their actions but I encourage them to have an open mind and think about what they can do to improve their outcomes besides paying fines.”

The judge was intentional about promoting a holistic approach to mental health, and hopes attendees were inspired to prioritize well-being in all areas of their life. She sought out local leadership, experts, and organizations that could provide support for the mind, body, and soul, including Bluebonnet Trails, licensed therapists, the Cedar Park gardening club, a boxing gym, and Soul Shine Drumming Circle among others.

Judge Williams says, “This is not just about therapy, but also things we can do to improve quality of life. These young people are dealing with anxiety, depression, and even familial suicide. Plus, I see a lot of single parents in my court and I know they don’t have time to research across this wide a spectrum of needs—they are just trying to feed and shelter their children. I wanted this one night to have all the resources in one place for the benefit of the whole family. My ideal outcome is that attendees found something to spark an interest that will uplift and improve their emotional state.”

Custom Support

In addition to the expo, Judge Williams also partners with Jail to Jobs and other legacy courtroom programs to accommodate the needs of the individual. “We have a lot of good groups," she says. "Some are those we court order our students to work with, but they are all catalysts for change and provide good mentoring. I just want young people to know we will make every effort to tailor a program to accommodate their individual needs, much like a case manager would."

Judge Williams was encouraged by the number of agencies who participated and for any who were not able to attend, the resources and providers who participated will be available on her Williamson County website (wilco.org/jp2). She is also willing to meet in person with those who need help or are willing to contribute. She says, "My main goal is for people to understand that there is help out there and no one has to do it alone. If there is anything that wasn't cleared up at the expo, I'm happy to talk about it in person. I just hope to see young people and their families on a path to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life."