WELCOME BACK IN MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND HUNDREDS GATHERED RIGHT IN FRONT OF BIRMINGHAM CITY HALL TODAY TO SHED LIGHT ON THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESSES. WVTM 13. S BRYCE OLSON JOINED THEM AND SPOKE WITH MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES AND WHY YOU SHOULDN’T BE ASHAMED TO SEEK HELP. COME ON AND CLAP ALONG IF YOU FEEL LIKE HAPPINESS IS THE TRUTH. COME ON. IF YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, YOU’RE CRAZY. OR IF YOU GO TO CHURCH, JUST SAY, HEY, JUST PRAY ABOUT IT. IT’LL. IT’LL BE ALL RIGHT. ALABAMA HOSTED A MENTAL HEALTH FAIR OUTSIDE BIRMINGHAM CITY HALL, HIGHLIGHTING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE STATE. DIMITRI FRENCH IS ONE OF THE 60 VENDORS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO MIND YOUR MENTAL BODY IS GREAT, BUT ALSO TALKING TO A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND SOMEONE DESCRIBING THE MEDICATION THAT’S NEEDED IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO THEY NEED TO BE A RACE AND ACTUALLY COME TO EVENTS LIKE THIS AND TALKING ABOUT IT AND HEARING ABOUT THE INFORMATION WILL HELP ELIMINATE. PRICHARD, FOUNDER OF NURTURE ALABAMA, CRYSTAL MULLEN JOHNSON SAYS PLENTY OF AMERICANS DEAL WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN SILENCE, BUT THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO UPLIFT THEM. 1 IN 5 AMERICANS SUFFER WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS IN AMERICA IN ONE YEAR, SO THAT MAY BE SOMEONE YOU KNOW. SO THAT LETS YOU KNOW YOU’RE NEVER ALONE. SO WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, DON’T QUIT. NURTURE YOUR GROWTH AND STRIVE TO BE A HEALTHIER YOU. FRENCH SAYS EVENTS LIKE THIS KEEP PEOPLE MINDFUL, AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WILL BENEFIT YOU IN MULTIPLE WAYS. OUR MENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS OUR BODY HOLISTICALLY. OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS INTACT. OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH WILL BE INTACT. OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH WILL BE INTACT AS WELL. COME ALONG. IF YOU FEEL LIKE THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE. IN BIRMINGHAM, BRYCE OLSON WVTM 13. AN
Mental health fair in Birmingham highlights resources and aims to reduce stigma
Nurture Alabama hosted a mental health fair outside Birmingham City Hall to provide resources and support for mental health while addressing stigma.
Updated: 4:44 PM CDT May 8, 2026
Nurture Alabama hosted a mental health fair outside Birmingham City Hall, featuring 60 vendors to promote mental health awareness and resources. “We’ve been told that if you have mental health issues you’re crazy or if you go to church they say, ‘Hey, just pray about it, it’ll be alright,’” said Demechiko French, a mental health practitioner participating in the event. French stressed the importance of professional help alongside spiritual support. “Praying about it is great, but also talking to a professional counselor and someone who can prescribe you medication that’s needed is very important, so that stigma needs to be erased. Actually coming to events like this and talking about it and hearing about the information will help eliminate that stigma,” French said. Crystal Mullen-Johnson, founder of Nurture Alabama, highlighted the widespread impact of mental health challenges and the organization’s mission to uplift those affected. “One in five Americans suffer with a mental illness in America in one year, so that may be someone you know. That lets you know you’re never alone. So we’re here to support you, and I want to tell you, don’t quit. Nurture your growth and strive to be a healthier you,” Mullen-Johnson said. French also emphasized the holistic benefits of maintaining mental health. “Our mental health affects our body holistically, so if our mental health is intact, our financial health will be intact, our physical health will be intact as well,” French said.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
Nurture Alabama hosted a mental health fair outside Birmingham City Hall, featuring 60 vendors to promote mental health awareness and resources.
“We’ve been told that if you have mental health issues you’re crazy or if you go to church they say, ‘Hey, just pray about it, it’ll be alright,’” said Demechiko French, a mental health practitioner participating in the event.
French stressed the importance of professional help alongside spiritual support. “Praying about it is great, but also talking to a professional counselor and someone who can prescribe you medication that’s needed is very important, so that stigma needs to be erased. Actually coming to events like this and talking about it and hearing about the information will help eliminate that stigma,” French said.
Crystal Mullen-Johnson, founder of Nurture Alabama, highlighted the widespread impact of mental health challenges and the organization’s mission to uplift those affected.
“One in five Americans suffer with a mental illness in America in one year, so that may be someone you know. That lets you know you’re never alone. So we’re here to support you, and I want to tell you, don’t quit. Nurture your growth and strive to be a healthier you,” Mullen-Johnson said.
French also emphasized the holistic benefits of maintaining mental health. “Our mental health affects our body holistically, so if our mental health is intact, our financial health will be intact, our physical health will be intact as well,” French said.