About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2024)
Page 4, October 28, 2024 The Islander Publisher's Statement THE ISLANDER (USPS 002430), A member of the Georgia Press Associa tion and Glynn County’s only weekly newspa- per is published 51 weeks a year for $43 per year in Glynn County and $53 per year in the United States outside Glynn Comity by Permar Pub lications, Inc., 1604 B Newcastle Street, Brunswick, GA 31525. Periodicals post age paid at Brunswick, GA. The Island er is also available to subscribers onhne at theislanderonline.com. Contents of The Islander, including advertising, may not he reprinted or re produced in any form without written permission of the publishers. POST MASTER send address change to The Islander, P.O. Box 20539, St. Simons Island, GA 31522. Publication Deadline Publication Date: Every Monday Deadline: Thursdays, 12 PM for ads and news copy for the following Mon day’s edition. Holiday Schedule On Monday Post Office holidays, The Islander is mailed on Tuesday. 2024 Postal Holidays January 1 Monday New Year’s Day January 15 Monday MLK Jr. birthday February 19 Monday Presidents’ Day May 27 Monday Memorial Day June 19 Wednesday Juneteenth July 4 Thursday Independence Day September 2 Monday Labor Day October 14 Monday Columbus Day November 11 Monday Veterans’ Day November 28 Thursday Thanksgiving Day December 25 Wednesday Christmas Day Holiday Deadline: Thursdays, 12 PM for ads and news copy for the following Monday’s edition. Mission Statement: to publish the truth without fear or favor. Established 1972 Matthew J. Permar - Publisher Elise J. Permar - Publisher 1972-2003 Gertrude Bradshaw - Co-Editor 1972-1991 Managing Editor & Advertising Manager Pamela P. Shierling 912-265-9654 Pew News Patty Gibson - 912-638-8844 Contributors Dr. Diane Bowen MD Ginny Johnson D.A. King Phone Number 912-265-9654 email: ssislander@bellsouth.net Web: theislanderonbne.com Award Winning Newspaper 1975 1980 1985 • 1976 19811992 1977 1982 1999 1978 1983 2002 1979 1984 2008 2012, 2016 Health summit Continued from Page 1 Glynn County Behavioral Health Ad vocates will hold a Behavioral Health Summit at the Southeast Georgia Health System’s Linda Pinson Con ference Center in Brunswick. These Advocates include Wright Culpepper, Diana Fullem, Christine Glover, Nora Lott Haynes, Jenna Kennedy, and Shelly Spate. The hosts are Glynn County Dis trict 2 Commissioner Cap Fendig, Sen. Hodges, Libby and Don Hogan (former representative for District 179), Sher iff Neal Jump, Rep. Townsend, and Glynn County Commissioner Walter Rafolski. Keynote speakers are Commis sioner Kevin Tanner, Georgia Depart ment of Behavioral Health and De velopmental Disabilities and Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Boggs. “A year ago,” Haynes said, “we put a group of five people together to discuss the mental health issues in Glynn.” “Several members of that group have family members who have been failed by the system,” she continued. “One member had a mentally ill son who died.” “Three members have sons with se rious mental illnesses who are in and out of jail,” she said. “It is very hard to get proper treat ment for many of those with mental illnesses partly because they don’t think they are mentally ill,” she said. This condition is called Anosogno- sia, she said. It’s a condition where a person’s brain cannot recognize one or more of his / her health conditions. Information from the Cleveland Clinic: “Anosognosia is incredibly common with certain mental health conditions. Experts estimate that it affects between 50% and 98% of peo ple with schizophrenia, about 40% of people with bipolar disorder, and more than 80% of people with Alzheimer’s disease.” “People with anosognosia have no insight into their illness,” Haynes said. “They have to be forced into treatment.” “Part of the problem is that Georgia doesn’t have the mental health profes sionals to help these people,” Haynes said. “The other part of the problem is that until two years ago insurance companies would not cover mental ill nesses treatment,” she said. Two years ago House Bill 1013 was passed with then Rep. Hogan as one of the sponsors. HB 1013 overhauled Georgia’s men tal health system by enforcing compli ance with federal mental health parity law. The Act requires health insurers to provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorders equitably with physical health and defines gen erally accepted standards of care. Georgia piloted an Assisted Out patient Treatment Program (AOT) which is a civil legal procedure in which a person with severe mental illness is ordered by a judge to follow a court-ordered treatment plan in the community due to being deemed a se rious risk of harm to self or others. According to Haynes this program has worked very well. Glynn County received an AOT grant which is worked through Pro bate Court and Gateway Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Empirical evidence exists that court-ordered treatment works. New York’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment Law (commonly known as “Kendra’s Law”) has been the sub ject of two empirical investigations: a 2005 study conducted by the New York State Office of Mental Health (“the OMH study”), and a 2009 evalu ation performed under contract with New York State, by an independent research team (“the independent evaluation”). Taken together, the two reports establish that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) drastically reduces hospitalization, homelessness, arrest, and incarceration among people with severe psychiatric disorders, while in creasing adherence to treatment and overall quality of life. The independent evaluation fur ther indicates that the effectiveness of Kendra’s Law is not simply a product of systemic service enhancements, but The First Tuesday Gallery Showcase in downtown Brunswick and several oth ers galleries continues on November 5. Brunswick galleries will showcase their respective exhibits with opportunities to meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and spend the evening in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The Gallery Show case takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Linda Shannon’s landscapes are on display at The Brunswick Library. So- Glo Gallery’s new exhibit is A Child for All Seasons A Retrospective Exhibition is in part attributable to the value of AOT court orders in motivating treat ment compliance. Kendra’s Law reduces the most se vere consequences of lack of treatment. The Summit, Haynes said, will bring the stakeholders together to dis cuss the mental health gaps in Glynn County. “We would like to come up with two to four solutions to start,” she said, “that are easy to accomplish and see if we can make progress.” “Empirical evidence since 2010,” Haynes continued, “shows there are four things needed for recovery, ad equate treatment, safe appropri ate housing, a meaningful day, and technology or communication among agencies.” It should be noted that Glynn Coun ty Probate Court works with Gateway to help those with mental health and substance abuse problems to adhere to a treatment plan created for the in dividual by Gateway doctors. To attend the Summit or for infor mation, email: gcbhadvocates@gmail. com. of paintings with book signing by artist Jerry Luke. The Wilcox Gallery in the Historic Ritz Theatre continues it’s “The Art of Brunswick” celebrating the past, pres ent and future of Brunswick with histor ic photos and memorabilia and artwork by local artists. New this month is Kenny Nobles Pho tography/Creative Frameworks (1302 Gloucester Street) whose work includes landscapes, wildlife, and lifestyles of those living or visiting Coastal Georgia. To Buy or Sell Land in Coastal Georgia Please Call Fred Freyer, Associate Broker 912-230-0539 fred@fredfreyer.com fredfreyer.com associates 4 Real Ijutr Senates (912)638-4740 Country Cooking, Lunch Specials, Monday thru Friday 11 A.M, to 2:00 P.M. $8.95 MARSHSIDE Peppei Steak Fried or Baked Chicken Meat Pot Loaf Roast Fried Fried or or Baked Smothered Chicken Chicken Country Fried Steak ^Seafood Gumbo with White Rice & Combread * Vlarshside Lunch Specials Come With Your Choice of 2 Sides. Cabbage - Collard Greens - Black Eyed Peas - Lima Beans - Mashed Potatoes & Gravy - Macaroni & Cheese - White Rice - Dirty Rice - Steamed Vegetables 1200 Glynn Avenue, Brunswick, GA 912-342-7981 www.marshsidegrill.com/ Ocean Fresh Seafood, Burgers, Appetizers, Salads, Brunswick Stew, Sandwiches & More. First Tuesday Gallery Showcase Downtown Brunswick
