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 Yeager, 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.
In fact, mental health conditions are increasing worldwide, mainly because of demographic changes, according to 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, therapist-led 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 Yeager.
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 Yeager.
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 Yeager, 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, B.Y.R.D. House, another nonprofit, 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 stress-alleviating 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. NCM