NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — "Never give up" and "Your story isn’t over" are just some of the signs and reminders to Peninsula residents at the Brittingham-Midtown Community Center in Newport News.
“Mental health is a big issue in our communities," said Ivy Baptist Church Pastor Kevin Swann. "There are a lot of traumas that go unaddressed.”
Saturday morning, the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month with its second annual mental health expo — educating the community and addressing misconceptions.
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“I think the first piece is the stigma that ‘I should just be able to keep going,’ that ‘I don’t need help,’ that ‘I’m not that bad.,” said Dr. Kristie Norwood, a licensed psychologist and the founder of Remind U Wellness and Outreach.
The event exposed residents to organizations and agencies offering help in Hampton and Newport News. Some of those resources include support for substance abuse, and mental and physical wellness.
“Just bringing light to the subject, making it more comfortable to talk about it and get the help that people need," Swann said.
The event centered around the eight wellness dimensions, including physical, spiritual, emotional and social wellness.
“Health encompasses a large area,” Swann said. “You know you can’t just talk about one and not address the other.”
“I think the education is so important for the community," Dr. Norwood said. "Also, we know that we are better when we are a community with each other.”
The overall goal here is to remind residents they are not alone and that there are several resources in this community to support them.
The expo also included conversations on the journey to seeking mental health treatment, coping strategies and stress management tips, as well as exploring how faith can positively impact one’s mental health.