May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma, and encourage people to seek support when they need it.
Opioid overdose reversal kits are being distributed to 180 schools across Northwest Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is partnering with Northwest Georgia RESA as part of a statewide effort to equip every public school in Georgia with Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
A “Stuff the Box” event was held Tuesday, April 21, where local education, behavioral health, and public safety professionals helped assemble the kits for schools in the region. Several schools picked up their completed kits the same day.
State officials say the effort is funded through opioid settlement dollars and supports Wesley’s Law, which allows schools to obtain and administer opioid antagonists while providing legal protections for staff acting in good faith.
The statewide initiative has already reached more than 1,300 schools, with a goal of equipping 2,300 schools by the end of the school year.
Trion City Schools Hiring Student Advocacy Specialist; Applications Due March 6
WZQZ News — Trion City Schools is now accepting applications for a Student Advocacy Specialist for the 2026–2027 school year.
The district says the job is part-time, with a maximum of 20 hours per week, and the person hired will focus on helping identify and support students who may be struggling with mental or behavioral health concerns.
Mental health advocates in Georgia are urging lawmakers to strengthen and enforce the state’s Mental Health Parity Act, arguing that too many people still face denials, delays, or limited access when trying to get behavioral health care covered by insurance.
Families across Chattooga County are invited to attend the next Speak Life Special Needs Family Support Group meeting on Saturday, February 28, at 11 a.m. at The Ark, located at 2629 Spring Creek Road in Trion.
This month’s gathering will feature guest speaker Mr. Driggers, a board-certified behavioral analyst, who will offer insight and host a question-and-answer session focused on challenges many families face, including elopement, harmful stimming behaviors, and food refusal. Organizers say the event is designed to provide practical guidance and encouragement for parents and caregivers.
The support group is open to individuals of all ages with special needs and their families. Food, fellowship, and family-friendly activities will be part of the morning event.
Speak Life meets at 11 a.m. on the last Saturday of each month, except November and December, at rotating locations throughout Chattooga County.
State Rep. Eddie Lumsden, a Republican from Armuchee, who represents Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the second week of the Georgia legislative session focused on “budget week,” as lawmakers reviewed Gov. Brian Kemp’s proposals for the amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Lumsden highlighted a proposed one-time $1 billion tax rebate, a $2,000 supplement for state employees and school personnel, investments in rural economic development and timber industry recovery, increased funding for higher education and HOPE scholarships, and the creation of the state’s first need-based aid program through the DREAMS scholarship. He also noted funding for behavioral health housing support, public safety, transportation projects, and workforce development, along with updates on Georgia’s revenue outlook and preparations for winter weather, including a statewide State of Emergency. Lumsden said budget subcommittees will continue their work in the coming weeks and encouraged constituents to stay informed and engaged. See his complete report below:
Georgia lawmakers are confronting a growing child welfare crisis: children with serious mental and behavioral health needs being left behind at emergency rooms and psychiatric facilities because families say they have run out of options.
Chattooga County students will soon have expanded access to school-based mental health care thanks to a $430,000 investment from Atrium Health Floyd, funded by the Atrium Health Floyd-Polk Foundation. The initiative is aimed at strengthening timely, high-quality mental health services for students—addressing needs tied to anxiety, depression, stress, and overall well-being.
A workforce-focused recovery program aimed at helping residents rebuild their lives is expanding in Chattooga County and across the region after Highland Rivers Behavioral Health was awarded a $1 million grant to grow its recovery-to-work efforts into all 13 Northwest Georgia counties it serves.