Local Approaches to Mental Health

Meeting Newnan’s mental health needs

Written by MELISSA JACKSON AND HANNAH TROSPER

Everyone feels broken at least once in their life, and no one gets out of life without experiencing some form of trauma, according to Jennifer Yaeger, clinical director at Seaglass Therapy in Newnan.

However, she adds, healing is possible for everyone, and anyone can become a survivor as opposed to a victim. That’s good news.

The bad news: In 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 48,000 Americans died as a result of intentional self-harm, making suicide among the leading causes of death. The same year, approximately 55.7 million Americans in medical visits sought assistance for ailments arising from mental health disorders.

Further, according to the CDC, nearly 5% of American adults report regular feelings of depression, and more than 20% receive mental health treatment of some kind, including pharmaceutical support for mental health ailments.

Between 2019 and 2021, Americans spent nearly $21 billion seeking support for substance abuse and mental illness, according to IBISWorld, an international industry research provider.

In recent years, worries across the world have included the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and international strife such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the persistent threat of North Korean nuclear aggression, all exacerbating the stress and anxiety of life in the 21st century.

The World Health Organization, which reports a 13% rise in mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the last decade.

Newnan and Coweta have not escaped the surge in mental health maladies. And while it’s difficult to meet all mental health needs, several local organizations work to do just that. Here are just a few.

SEAGLASS THERAPY

Located on East Broad Street in Newnan, Seaglass Therapy is a holistic therapy practice specializing in emotional and behavioral issues with a focus on helping clients heal from trauma through a variety of treatments, including talk therapy, art and music therapy, therapistled yoga sessions, massage and acupuncture. They even have a Himalayan salt sauna.

Treatments such as Trauma-Informed Yoga help clients “find empowerment and safety in their body,” according to Yaeger.

Yoga sessions are led by a licensed therapist, who utilizes tools like invitational language, inviting clients to move to a position only if they feel comfortable, as opposed to instructing them. Therapists are mindful of potential past trauma related to physical touch, so they don’t physically touch clients to correct form without asking for consent.

Both of these tools help clients feel empowered to set boundaries, and create a comfortable and safe therapeutic environment, according to Yaeger.

FRAYED EDGES

An offshoot of Seaglass Therapy, Frayed Edges is a nonprofit that raises money to offset costs of counseling and other emotional wellness services for Cowetans. Frayed Edges offers scholarship programs of 12 therapy sessions over six months at a cost of $30 per session with qualification based on income and size of household. The nonprofit raises funds to provide this discounted rate by seeking grants and hosting events.

In September, Frayed Edges held its second festival at Greenville Street Park in Newnan, complete with vendors, food trucks and live music. A favorite component of the festival, according to Yaeger, was a $15 armband area where the Seaglass team provided mental wellness activities such as a rage room, yoga, an art and music therapy project, and dream interpretation.

Another affordable option for services offered through Seaglass Therapy is its internship program in which graduate students working on completing licensure offer therapy at the same rate as the scholarship program. Licensed therapists remain involved in the caseload to ensure a positive and helpful experience for the client. Anyone interested can opt in to the program and receive the discounted rate, as long as they consent to a student leading the session.

B.Y.R.D. HOUSE

Located in Newnan, Behavioral Youth Resource Development (B.Y.R.D.) House is another nonprofit that provides strategies to connect youth and families with professionals who provide the support and guidance necessary for positive socialization. Sliding-scale pricing is based on income for counseling sessions.

B.Y.R.D. House specializes in treating school-aged children ages 5 to 18 and their families with emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing thoughts and thought patterns in order to create more positive behaviors and feelings.

An afterschool program offered by B.Y.R.D. House, Beat the Street extends tutoring and personal mentoring in order to prepare at-risk youth for success. The program provides educational interventions with a variety of recreational, social and life skills.

By focusing on all aspects of a child’s life, such as mental wellness, personal relationships, family and education, this program sets its participants up with the best possible opportunity for success, and helps them grow into healthy, confident adults.

PITCHING IN

In addition to formal therapeutic experiences, several Coweta businesses and institutions offer opportunities to practice wellness-supporting habits.

On Wednesday evenings, local musician Richard Oteri visits House of Light, on Jackson Street in Newnan, for free group meditation.

“Being able to stop thinking or to think in a more peaceful way is very beneficial,” says Oteri, who notes that some suffering with anxiety or physical ailments, such as arthritis, comment on how their symptoms seem to disappear during the hour-long meditation.

House of Light also offers an on-demand drum circle experience for individuals interested in the stressalleviating practice of group drumming.

The Carnegie Library in Newnan offers free guided meditation and breathing classes, along with other classes aimed at reducing stress and promoting mental wellness, including Exercise is Medicine and Gentle Yoga.

Blue Lotus and Backstreet Arts also offer programs aimed at improving mental health. NCM

Low-cost and no-cost ways to reduce stress

Written by MELISSA JACKSON

While many mental health concerns require professional therapy and pharmaceutical support, imbalances resulting from situational stress and low-level anxiety can often be addressed by intentional lifestyle shifts. Seek professional help if you need it, and consider these low and no-cost solutions to help improve your daily wellbeing.

Sleep: Many studies have shown a correlation between adequate sleep and mental wellness. Keep a sleep journal and document your sleep schedule and sleep disruptions to look for patterns. Remember to put electronic devices away and eliminate blue light from your bedroom. Get a white noise machine if nearby noises, like a spouse’s snore, disrupt your sleep.

Physical activity: Regular physical activity promotes mental and physical wellness as well as better sleep patterns. Consider joining a group walking or running program, taking up a sport, or dusting off that gym membership for the new year.

Mindfulness activities: Mindfulness activities such as focusing on your breathing and practicing meditation can transform daily experiences and reduce stress. Google “Mayo clinic, mindfulness exercises” for tips and strategies.

Free community resources: Visit House of Light to find out more about their free meditation evenings and on-demand drum circles, or start a drum circle of your own. Visit the Carnegie Library to participate in free yoga, breathing and exercise classes specifically designed to support mental and physical wellness.

Nutritional changes: There’s increasing evidence that the gut microbiome dramatically impacts mood and mental wellness. Consider ways to eliminate processed foods and increase sources of micronutrients and probiotics through fermented foods as well as fresh fruit, vegetable and protein options.

Supplements: In 2017 the National Center for Biotechnology Information published a study indicating that increasing regular doses of magnesium and B6 correlates with decreased anxiety. Ask your doctor if these or other supplements might help you.

Turn to the Ancients: Read Epictetus’s “The Art of Living” translated by Sharon Lebell or Marcus Aurelius’s “Meditations” to learn more about how the ancient stoics managed the stress of daily life nearly 2,000 years ago. You may be surprised by how relevant their advice remains. “There is only one way to happiness,” Epictetus stated, “and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond our power or our will.”

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