In honor of National Mental Health Month, the Tift Regional Health System Behavioral Health Service Department will be holding a free mental health seminar from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on May 31 at the Tift Regional Community Events Center in Tifton.   
 
This event is free, open to the public, and includes a complimentary meal.  Seating is limited and registration is required.  To register, send an email to [email protected] or call 229-896-8104.
 
“Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness,” said Amanda Ramshead, LMFT, TRHS Behavioral Health Service Line Director.  “We are using National Mental Health Month and this seminar as a way to help fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for people with mental illness and their families.”
 
Ramshead said the seminar will be facilitated by the Affinity Behavioral Medicine team including board-certified psychiatrist Abhinav Saxena, M.D. and other behavioral health professionals from this practice.
 
Dr. Saxena is the Medical Director of the TRHS Behavioral Health Service Department.  He also serves as the Medical Director of the Sylvia Barr Center, an geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit located at Cook Medical Center in Adel.  Dr. Saxena earned his medical degree from Mercer University in Macon and completed residency training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
“One-in-five Americans is affected by mental health conditions,” said Ramshead.  “This informative seminar will include general mental health information, patient testimonials and a question-and-answer session.”
 
The Tift Regional Community Events Center is located in Tifton at 1657 S. Carpenter Road, connected to the Tiftarea YMCA.