Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

10/09/2025

🌟Last week, behavioral health leaders, providers, and advocates from across Georgia gathered at the 2025 Behavioral Health Symposium, hosted in partnership by DBHDD and the University of Georgia.

Commissioner Kevin Tanner opened the event with a message of hope and action, emphasizing that “behavioral health is not a side issue – it is central to the health of our communities.”

This year’s theme, Opening Doors to Recovery, reflects Georgia’s ongoing commitment to building pathways to care through innovation, collaboration, and compassion. Commissioner Tanner highlighted several key priorities shaping the future of behavioral health in Georgia, including:
🔹 Expansion of 988 and crisis services statewide
🔹 Growth of crisis stabilization and community-based care
🔹 Strengthening co-responder programs and law enforcement partnerships
🔹 Investments in the behavioral health workforce through new university partnerships
🔹 Leadership through the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust, ensuring settlement funds directly support prevention, treatment, and recovery

The Symposium served as a reminder that meaningful progress happens when partners across state government, higher education, and communities work together.

Thank you to all who joined us and continue to help us open doors — to care, to recovery, and to hope — for every Georgian. 💙

10/08/2025

The Pathways Center Mental Health ACT Team's non-traditional approach to ensuring client success leads to great outcomes as they help each client work toward independence. Check out this video highlighting their work.

10/04/2025

🏈 Don't forget to take a timeout for your mental health! Need to huddle on some of life's challenges? Call/text #988 today!

DBHDD is proud to partner with UGA Athletics during today's game to spread awareness of #988. Your mental health matters.

10/03/2025

❤️🖤In partnership with UGA Athletics, we want you to know that it's okay to not be okay!

Too much to tackle? Make #988 a part of your mental health game plan.

Watch UGA Football on Oct. 4 - celebrating Student Athlete Mental Health Week!

10/02/2025

🏈 On Oct. 4, DBHDD is teaming up with UGA Athletics to highlight the importance of mental health during Student Athlete Mental Health Week.

We’re proud to stand with Georgia’s student athletes — reminding them that strength is more than physical and resilience starts with mental wellness.

Together, let’s make mental health a part of the game plan.

10/01/2025

DBHDD is proud to stand with UGA Athletics as we spotlight the importance of mental wellness on and off the field.

Check out this special video as we get ready for this week's game on October 4!

Whether you’ll be in Sanford Stadium or cheering from home, join us in supporting Georgia’s student-athletes and our behavioral health community. ❤️🖤

10/01/2025

🌟 Servant Leader Spotlight: Jennifer Dunn, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Field Operations (South)🌟

Last month, Jennifer was selected Chair of the Georgia Farmworkers Healthcare Program, which is funded by HRSA and housed within the State Office of Rural Health at DCH. This program oversees six clinics across rural Georgia dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of local farmworkers.

Jennifer is no stranger to farm life. Residing on a timber farm in South Georgia, she brings both her professional expertise and her personal passion to this role - championing initiatives that strengthen our state's rural healthcare system and ensure farmworkers receive the care they need.

In addition to this honor, Jennifer was recently accepted into the Center for Advancement of Leadership Skills program through the Southern Legislative Conference. This highly selective program brings together leaders from across the South to strengthen communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

👏 Congratulations, Jennifer, on these two incredible achievements! Thank you for embodying the spirit of servant leadership and making a lasting difference for our communities. We can't wait to see how your participation in these two opportunities lead to advancements here at DBHDD.

09/30/2025

📣 We are proud to share a new Spanish-language PSA created with WSB-TV Channel 2 Atlanta's Jorge Estevez.

September has been a BIG month with much to celebrate and bring awareness to:
🌟 Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities.
❤️ National Su***de Prevention and National Recovery Month reminds us that there is always hope and help available.

Thank you to the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust and WSB-TV for showing Georgians that there's hope - even when you're struggling with a mental health issue, substance misuse, or addiction.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call, text, or chat 988 for free and confidential support, 24/7.

🎥 Watch the video and share it with your community — together we can make a difference.

09/29/2025

We’ve got our partnership with the Dawgs under lock 🐾🔒—because mental health matters on and off the field.

We believe that the mental health of our student-athletes matters and are dedicated to providing UGA student-athletes with comprehensive psychological services and mental skills training.

| Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

09/24/2025

💙Su***de Prevention in Spalding County

Recently, Rachael Holloman, Senior Director of DBHDD's Office of Federal Grants and Su***de Prevention, spoke with the Spalding County Board of Commissioners about the urgent need for su***de prevention efforts.

For the past four years, Spalding County has experience higher su***de rates than most other Georgia counties. Tragically, 53 Spalding residents have died by su***de this year alone.

DBHDD is committed to working alongside local leaders and communities to bring resources, awareness and hope. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 to be connect with mental health resources and support.

09/23/2025

PRESS RELEASE: Georgia’s Newest Behavioral Health Crisis Center Coming Soon to Clayton County.

DBHDD and the Clayton County Board of Commissioners are partnering to build a $19 million Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC) in Clayton County.

Commissioner Kevin Tanner shared the news as part of the State’s ongoing commitment to strengthening crisis services in the metro Atlanta area.

Read more here: https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/press-releases/2025-09-23/georgias-newest-behavioral-health-crisis-center-coming-soon-clayton

09/19/2025

It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Thomas Lawrence (Larry) Fricks. For more than 30 years, Larry worked to challenge stigma, elevate the voices of those in recovery and ensure that lived experience is recognized as a powerful tool for healing.

Through his groundbreaking work - leading the creation of the Certified Peer Specialist training and certification program, helping establish the nation's first Medicaid-billable peer support services and cofounding the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network - Larry leaves behind a legacy that continues to impact lives across Georgia.

We are deeply grateful for his life, his work and the countless individuals, families and communities forever changed by his vision. 💙

A celebration of Larry's life will be held on Monday, Nov. 3, at The Carter Center's Cecil B. Day Chapel in Atlanta. Gathering will be from 12:30 - 1 p.m. The celebration program will start at 1 p.m. followed by a reception.