The Mental Health Fair will feature more than two dozen local organizations offering a wide range of mental health and substance abuse resources.
Madison City Schools is once again opening its doors to the community, this time to connect families with vital mental health and wellness resources.
The district will host its annual Mental Health Fair this Thursday, bringing together more than two dozen local organizations to provide information and support on topics ranging from mental health and trauma recovery to substance abuse services.
Stephanie Allen, the Madison City Schools’ Mental Health Services Coordinator, says the event was born out of a desire to strengthen the connection between schools, parents, and the broader community.
“It really started out of a desire to start conversation, increase connection between school, between community, and between our parents when it comes to mental health,” Allen said.
Allen says this year’s fair will feature around 18 community partners offering everything from medical care resources to school-based support.
“There’s something for everyone, and so many of these things overlap. To have them all in one place is just amazing and a fantastic resource for our families or anybody in the community who wants to come and maybe doesn’t even know what they need,” Allen added.
One of the participating organizations is Not One More Alabama, a nonprofit focused on substance use disorder. The group offers family support programs, recovery-centered activities, and educational resources for those affected by addiction.
“When we educate parents and stakeholders, then that ripple effect impacts those children,” said Kim Holder, Executive Director of Not One More Alabama.
At the fair, the organization will showcase its Discovery Room, a mobile trailer designed to look like a teenager’s bedroom. The exhibit helps parents identify early warning signs of substance use and opens the door for difficult but necessary conversations.
“It sets the stage for a conversation,” Holder said. “It’s a conversation we can have with educators, with parents, with older kids. It just really puts it all out in the open and takes away some of the stigma.”
Organizers say that’s exactly what they hope attendees will take away, open dialogue and clear direction for finding help.
“For parents or community members to walk away with helpful information and resources and to know where to go or who to contact when they have a need come up,” Allen said.
The Madison City Schools Mental Health Fair will take place Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Midtown Elementary School. The event is free and open to the public.
AI assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WAAY uses AI.
