Mental and Emotional

The SAM foundation is an organization operating in Georgia and Alabama that was founded in 2018. The people of the SAM foundation are driven to prevent suicide and protect the mental health of individuals by educating and training communities to have the skills to get involved when someone may be close to ending their own life. This is a very community-focused organization, as they believe it takes all members of a community to work together in order to prevent suicide. The organization was founded by Julie Smith after her brother Sam lost his life due to suicide, despite always seeming like such a jovial person. It was made apparent to her family that so many people, including younger demographics suffer in silence. By training and educating communities, the SAM foundation works to end the effects of the poor mental health epidemic.

The Youth Bright Foundation was founded by Richard Riner and operates largely in Georgia, which is where Riner is from. This organization strives to improve the mental health of children and young adults by providing them with the tools necessary to live a happier life. There is a strong belief within the organization that providing our youth with the necessary tools will allow young people to face their fears, speak up about issues they are having, and create a plan to lead them into an enjoyable life. The board members and volunteers within the organization have a true passion to get mental heath at the forefront of the mainstream and get more people talking about the importance of a good mindset and outlook on life. 

NAMI Georgia is the National Alliance on Mental Illness operating in Georgia. In 1979, a group of families determined to make a change on the mental health of their community sat around a table, and the organization has now emerged as one of the nations greatest leaders in supporting positive mental health. NAMI Georgia has goals of providing support, awareness, and education for the mental health issues within communities and people of all age groups within them. One way this is achieved is by training teachers and group facilitators to be able to offer classes and support groups. For the younger generations, the provide support on helping friends with poor mental health, managing your mental health in school, and even distinguishing whether certain behavior is normal or a sign of poor mental health among teenagers.