WARNER ROBINS, Ga. —
For one Houston County woman, mental health and wellbeing are at the top of her list. She's inviting those who feel the same to join her through a mental health support group.
The CDC reports that more than one out of five adults have gotten mental-health treatment, that number rose during the pandemic. Now, Savannah Register is making a safe space for those who struggle.
"I'm still recovering myself. I know it’s hard, driving home, looking at yourself in the rearview mirror, just crying," Register said tearfully.
For Register, mental health is a daily journey.
It’s one she now welcomes others to join in on.
"We might target abandonment issues, depression, anxiety, boundaries, self-care," she explained.
Weekly, she hosts a group of people in Centerville Park where they have a peer-led mental health support group, something born from what she says was one of her darkest times.
"I was hospitalized back in March for suicidal ideations and when I was released, they gave me a list of resources to look back on,” she said.
Now she's a resource for people like Kayden Quinton, one of the group members. He says he saw the group on social media and started attending out of need.
"I have no health insurance, and so when I saw Savannah posted it, I jumped on it really quick cause not having insurance and not being able to go to therapy, I really need something else,” he said.
Kayden identifies as a trans man and says he quickly found support in that group.
"Having somebody that supports me in a group I can be myself around, it definitely helped me be able to express a lot of the emotions that I've been having," he continued.
"I really want to see it flourish and continue even if, for some reason, I have to step down or I can’t continue with the meetings anymore, I really would hope it'd continue afterwards," Register said.
If you need help, you can find mental health resources, access to services and immediate crisis help, call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line 1-800-715-4225.
To join the group, email Savannah Register at savannahregister00@gmail.com