Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center has a new resource in place, in the wake of a March 25 dedication of a facility focusing on youth and early adulthood, under the canopy of a program known as Roads of Independence.

The health center's complex, at 1135 Gregg Highway, had a crowd of about 60 people gathered to cut a ribbon and celebrate a building dedicated to helping "youth and young adults… receive support for a successful transition to adulthood through engagement and providing access to mental health services," as described in a press release. 

Leaders, clients and well-wishers were part of the ROI assembly, which included an invitation to walk through the building and see some of the tools now ready for use. 

Tamara Smith, the health center's executive director, was among those marking the occasion. She noted that the development came via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and changes include the addition of three staff members to help with such concerns as teaching budgeting skills and helping with family therapy, group therapy and crisis intervention. 

"Our part of the funding was to address the needs of individuals with early, serious mental illness," she added. 

Andrea Gregory, an Aiken City Council member, was on hand for the occasion and shared her view on the program expansion.

"We are suffering with mental health and substance abuse disorder in our community," she said. "We need funding from the state level. We need our house representatives and our senators and our delegation and every political body to pay attention to this need."

Gregory, who works in behavioral health for Aurora Pavilion, Aiken Regional Medical Centers' facility for people dealing with emotional, behavioral and addiction problems, described herself as grateful for Smith "and the initiative she's starting, to bridge the gap between crisis and straight-forward counseling." 

"People need an in-between," she said. "This is a great initiative for our youth, to have somewhere to go to cope, to learn on how to manage their mental health conditions."


More information

Aiken Standard reporter

Bill Bengtson is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He has focused most recently on eastern Aiken County, agriculture, churches, veterans and older people. He previously covered schools/youth, North Augusta and Fort Gordon. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Whitman College, and also studied at Oregon State University and the University of Guadalajara.

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