A Meeting Of The Minds

Blegay Hosts County Mental Health Town Hall To Address Crisis

By Kennedy Edgerton

PHOTOGRAPHY AARON IVEY // PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COUNCIL

Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay hosted a Mental Health Town Hall May 12 to explore persistent challenges in local healthcare — mostly among children and adolescents.

Sponsored by Council Member Wala Blegay (D-District 6), the event featured several elected county officials who discussed the community’s lack of mental health awareness, resulting in drastic fallout, including a recent uptick in domestic violence homicides.

Blegay

"This mental health forum was to hear from the community. When we had it two years ago, there were a lot of gaping holes, where many people are suffering from mental health issues, but don't know where to go," said Councilwoman Blegay in a statement.

"We want to address this issue with adolescents and children, who don't have access to mental health services, and federal workers who are facing layoffs."

Erica Turner, a representative of the County Executive’s Office, highlighted the scope of the issue, noting that, “ One in five adults experience a mental illness — that equals about 140,000 residents here in Prince George’s County.”

While officials discussed recent investments, including the Dyer Care Center in Clinton, the focus shifted to heartfelt stories from parents and advocates. Delegate Kym Taylor shared her family’s struggles after her son, who has autism, suffered a breakdown.

 “I lost my son. He’s still alive, but I’ve lost him,” she shared, explaining how she called 988 and received no answer after a lengthy waiting period.

Danielle LeClair, the mother of a teenage daughter with PTSD, also said only two ER beds for children were available in the entire county — and they were miles from her house. “I didn’t adopt her to be separated,” LeClair said, noting her daughter now lives one hour and twenty minutes away.

Other attendees agreed and advocated for crisis stabilization beds, mental health education, substance use disorder (SUD) beds and more support for localized hospitals. Some of these solutions are already in progress, the councilmember reported, but residents are eager to see the results

After the meeting’s conclusion, Blegay promised county residents to further address the increasing mental health issue involving adolescents and children who are lacking access to mental health services.