Local organizations use this month to promote healthy mental health

Mental health has been a hot topic due to the increase in school shootings and suicides, and May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Local mental health facility, Edwin Fair is using this month to help the community.

Gary Wilburn, Edwin Fair executive director said they have already started visiting with students and community groups.

“We’re really trying to get the word out that indeed, May is Mental Health Awareness Month," Wilburn said. "We want folks to have some good information in their hands, to think about what it does mean to be mentally well and doing those things that improve our brain functioning and taking care of ourselves.Then if there is mental illness that might be involved, how a person moves toward recovery and have some hope of regaining some things in their life that may have been lost due to the mental illness or substance abuse issues.”

Edwin Fair’s annual festival, Mayfest got needed information in many family’s hands.

You can also get information at their offices in Kay, Pawnee and Osage Counties, Ponca City specifically has three offices.

Wilburn said mental health affects many people.

"For us to be able as a community, as an agency and partnering with other folks to just really make sure that stigma is reduced and that people that are needing support and services are able to do that, as far as getting connected with a provider and getting the help that they need," Wilburn said."So, we just really always want to get that word out, that there is hope, there is recovery, there are folks that provide that service and here at Edwin Fair we want to be a part of that.”

For more information you can visit EdwinFair.com.