MONROE, GA (November 30, 2021) – Ridgeview Institute – Monroe has partnered with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Mental Health Task Force (MHTF) to further end the stigma and culture surrounding mental illness in their communities.
Sheriff Keybo Taylor and the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office have pledged to create a county wide culture in which residents with mental health concerns are not criminalized for having a mental illness.
The partnership’s purpose is to actively reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and act as an instrument of advocacy to stem the decade’s long migration of the mentally ill into criminal justice in the state of Georgia. This includes creating a streamlined process for when the MHTF responds to individuals in the community with mental health illnesses, who are presenting in an acute crisis symptomatic of severe mental illness, that follows a different set of procedures than a response to a criminal act.
“Ridgeview Institute – Monroe is thankful to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office for leading this initiative. Through this partnership, we will be providing citizens the crisis stabilization, support and treatment that they desperately need instead of incarceration. The fact that Georgia ranks last in providing mental health care and resources is just another reason why having partnerships like this is so important,” said Angelica Scott, CEO of Ridgeview Institute – Monroe. “Success is built on communities coming together. We can all do our part to change the canvas and make a larger impact.”
Ridgeview Institute – Monroe completed suicide prevention training “Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)” for the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Mental Health Task Force (MHTF).
“It was a privilege to participate and assist in the QPR training alongside the MHTF, helping them get one step closer to their goals in creating a relationship with their community about mental health,” said Lisa Boylan, Director of Business Development at Ridgeview Institute.
Additionally, the Gwinnett County MHTF will be recognized as a community advocate for the rights, safety, and treatment of the severely mentally ill of Gwinnett County.
ABOUT RIDGEVIEW INSTITUTE
Ridgeview Institute has been Georgia’s first choice in mental health and addiction treatment since 1976. Offering a comprehensive array of programs for youth, young adults, adults and senior adults, the treatment facility also provides specialized programs for women and licensed professionals who need behavioral health and/or addiction intervention. It also offers the Recovery Residence, apartment-style living for those that are participating in PHP programs, which eliminates distance and transportation obstacles in a person’s recovery.
Ridgeview Institute has locations in Monroe and Smyrna, and offers free assessments. Individuals can be admitted directly into the program or referred after an acute inpatient hospitalization. For more information, please call (678) 635-3500, 24 hours a day.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Angelica Scott
678-635-3500
[email protected]