DARLINGTON — The Lafayette County Mental Health Matters coalition, in conjunction with the Darlington Community School District, hosted a Mental Health Matters summit at the Darlington High School on Wednesday, Jan. 25.  

The all-day event, which featured a keynote speaker and multiple breakout sessions, was aimed at normalizing the discussion surrounding mental health, reducing stigma, and heightening awareness about resources available to those who may be experiencing behavioral/mental health ailments. All DHS students and staff participated in the summit.  

The keynote speaker for the day was Peabody award-winning journalist Charles Monroe-Kane, who shared a message of hope about it “being ok not to be ok,” referring to one’s mental health. Breakout sessions throughout the day were hosted by several guest speakers and covered topics on meditation, yoga, social media and one’s mental health, anxiety, depression, bullying, body shaming, time management, healthy relationships, art therapy, and substance abuse. Students were able to choose four of the topics that most interested them and attend the breakout session.  

The Mental Health Matters coalition is comprised of professionals and lay people from throughout Lafayette County who are committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health by increasing awareness and normalizing the discussion. Its members believe brain ailments are just as normal and common as other body ailments and should be treated as such. People should be able to talk about and get treatment for brain health issues just as easily as heart health or any other health issue. After all, the consequences of ignoring any one or the other may prove to be debilitating and even fatal for the person suffering from the ailment.  

Unfortunately, though, many people are unwilling to discuss their own mental wellness or seek treatment due to public stigma surrounding mental health, which is largely fueled by a lack of understanding or fear by people who have not taken the time to learn more about the topic. The MHM coalition hopes events like the summit at DHS will reduce stigma through education thereby helping more people understand “it’s ok to not be ok,” and that everybody “needs a checkup from the neck up” occasionally.

For more information about the Lafayette County Mental Health Matters coalition, or to get involved, people may speak with Candi Fitzsimons at Johnson Public Library or Chief Jason King at the Darlington Police Department.