While suicide is the 11th leading cause of death for all ages in Georgia, it was the 1st leading cause of death among youth ages 10-14 from 2017-2021. The suicide rate among teens aged 10-14 doubled 2019 through 2021. In the past five years, the number of suicide deaths among teens in Georgia has increased by 35%. Males account for 76% of teen suicide deaths from 2017 to 2021. However, females in this age group have almost three times more reported suicide attempts than their male counterparts.

Georgia’s DBHDD was recently awarded almost $500,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to help meet the mental health needs of students in Clayton County. The funding will be used by DBHDD to partner with several universities to increase the number and diversity of mental health service providers to students in Clayton County. Over the next five years, this funding will help Georgia boost the pipeline of school-based mental health service providers including mental health clinicians, social workers, and counselors.

For the first time in more than 15 years, DBHDD is reviewing payment rates and policies for services provided through the New Options and Comprehensive Supports Waivers, and public comment will be considered as a part of the final proposal.

Interim Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)Monica Johnson has been selected for the National Women’s Empowerment Behavioral Health Leadership Award by the National Women’s Empowerment Ministry.

Members of the media are invited to join DBHDD Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald and the 9-8-8 Steering Team for an update on the first 45 days of the gradual rollout of 9-8-8 in Georgia.

Georgia has completed the first phase of planning for its implementation of 9-8-8, the new number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) is pleased to announce the addition of Ashley Fielding to our team as the Assistant Commissioner for Agency Affairs.

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) operates the Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line to assist people who have been emotionally, physically, or financially impacted by COVID-19. The Emotional Support Line is free, confidential, and anonymous. Trained mental health professionals are available to provide a “listening ear” to Georgians who need emotional support and referrals to resources in their communities.

ATLANTA—On October 15th, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, DBHDD, will join the International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS), in celebrating Global Peer Support. We will be launching a webpage dedicated to honoring over 3000 CPSs trained and certified in Georgia.

ATLANTA— Please join the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Behavioral Health Prevention and Federal Grants on Thursday, October 22nd from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM on DBHDD’s Facebook Live Watch Party as we premiere the 2020 Governor’s Red Ribbon Campaign Week Kick-Off in collaboration with special guests, Q99.7 Radio Host, Jade, and Epic recording artist Madison Beer.