AUGUSTA, Ga. () – The Lamar Mental Wellness Center near the Turpin Hill neighborhood is offering care for our underserved population.

The center is a new addition to the Lamar Medical Center.

Mental health has been an ongoing concern in our community and this new center is a way for people to get the help they need.

“The anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, life traumas, marital troubles, and relationship issues are exactly what we’re here to address,” explained Gladys Johnson-Ramsey, the Director of Lamar Mental Wellness Center. “We aim to equip people with the coping mechanisms they require to handle the everyday challenges that often feel overwhelming.”

July is designated as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Mental Health Awareness Month. Ramsey hopes the center can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues in the African American community.

“Regrettably, we often don’t acknowledge these issues in our families. We tend to dismiss them by saying, ‘Oh, that’s just how they behave, they’ve always been like that,’ instead of recognizing them as problems until they become too severe,” said Ramsey.

There is also a food and clothing bank in the resources center for those in need.

Ramsey tells me the Medical Center was the perfect place to add a Wellness Center to be able to reach more people.

“It was so lacking in this area because there’s really nowhere else you can go unless you’re going to be hospitalized for mental health concerns. I want them to know that we are here for the, we have empathy, not sympathy, we have empathy for them, and compassion for everybody,” Ramsey said.

The center is part of the Beulah Grove Community Resources Center which was chartered by Beulah Grove Baptist Church in 1993.

If you are seeking any services at the Lamar Mental Wellness Center, you can reach out to Gladys Johnson-Ramsey here: 706-550-5421