Denison event addresses mental health stigma

By Shereen Hashem, KTEN News

DENISON, Texas — Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder — all are examples of mental health issues faced by so many Texomans.

“Three out of four of us have either a friend or a family member who suffers from mental illness or ourselves, and so it’s really important to talk about it,” said Gail Utter, who helped organize the third annual Community Behavioral Health Conference at the Hilton Garden Inn in Denison on Thursday.

The event, which welcomed an audience of more than 500, addressed the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and speakers discussed increasing access to care and spreading awareness.

Utter said while there are many mental health facilities in the Texoma area and Grayson County, more are needed.

“There’s not enough psych beds; there’s not enough providers; and so that’s a major major problem,” she said.

Army veteran Colt Floyd shared his experience with getting the right treatment and help he needed to overcome PTSD.

“A lot of therapy, a lot of people putting in a lot of time and effort into me, and certainly helped me to develop a ‘tool belt,’ if you will, to kind of operate and improve my quality of life,” he said.

Carrus Specialty Hospital in Sherman has announced plans to open a new mental health facility for children.

Originally published by KTEN: http://www.kten.com/story/40048630/denison-event-addresses-mental-health-stigma