Annual Mental Health Benefit at Ciné

The 20th Annual Mental Health Benefit, which runs January 24 to 30, is calling for donated art in order to raise mental health awareness in the Northeast Georgia community. The donated art will then be auctioned off in order to raise money for the awareness and prevention of mental health discrimination in the workplace and in society. In the organization’s own words, the money from the benefit will help “continue the mission of the MHANEGA by advocating for the rights of mental health consumers and their families, educating the public, and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness” (http://www.fightthestigma.com/Join-v-13.html). On January 24, from 2 to 4 p.m Ciné Barcafe is hosting the free reception. To view works of art up for auction The MHANEGA website also provides a brief mission statement:

Mental Health America of Northeast Georgia is affiliated with Mental Health America of Georgia and the national Mental Health America organization. We recently changed our name from the Mental Health Association to communicate how fundamental mental health is to the overall health and well being of our citizens: locally, throughout the state, and nationally.

We want all people to understand how to protect and improve their mental health, and know when and how to seek help for themselves or someone close to them.

We want our state schools, businesses, healthcare system and other settings to have the knowledge and resources they need to respond to the mental health of their constituencies and achieve their missions.

We want all Georgians to have access to high quality, affordable and personalized
preventative, early-identification and treatment services, when and if the need arises.

We want persons with disabling mental illnesses to receive the support, treatment and services that they need to recover and live full lives in their communities.

Check back on the MHANEGA Web site to see art up for auction