Mental Health Expo Aims To Reduce WilCo Suicides

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The county's first Mental Health Expo is scheduled this month.

The Jan. 16 event is scheduled to take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, Suite 226, in Georgetown, Texas 78626. "Residents of all ages and community and business leaders who have a particular stake in mental health are encouraged to join the event for this 'one stop shop' for resources and programs pertaining to mental health and wellness," county officials wrote in an advisory.

The expo will be hosted by the Williamson County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3. Before becoming Justice of the Peace, organizers noted, Judge Evelyn McLean was in law enforcement for 26 years. "During her law enforcement career, Judge McLean said she sadly witnessed an uptrend in suicides and attempted suicides through the years, along with a whole host of other mental health issues affecting our residents," officials wrote. "Judge McLean has a personal interest in mental health as she also sees people in court who are suffering mentally and emotionally."

“The goals of this Mental Health Expo are aimed at enhancing the ability for citizens to live healthy lives, decrease suicide rates and eliminate the negative stigma associated with mental illness," McLean said in a prepared statement. "Our hope is that through collaborative efforts and events like this, we can work toward removing barriers to recovery and strive to learn the skills necessary to help each other.”

For more information or to reserve a free table at the Mental Health Expo, call (512) 943-1508 by Monday, Jan. 6.