An Interview with Andy Hagler

I had the opportunity recently to speak with Andy Hagler. Andy has served as the Executive Director of The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County for the past 9 years. Since May is National Mental Health Month, we talked about his experience in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community.

What is the function of the Mental Health Association?

We are primarily an advocacy agency. There continues to be a stigma in our culture about seeking mental health services. We try to provide education and information to change that attitude. We also maintain referral listings and offer several support groups.

What do you see as the major issues in our area?

There are two major problems—access and crisis care.

If a person needs to rely on the county mental health system rather than the private sector, it is often very difficult to access and navigate. This is particularly true for people with either severe mental illness or dual diagnoses.

The second major problem is crisis or emergency care. Forsyth County used to have 4 inpatient psychiatric facilities. Now only the smallest 2 of those 4 are left—NCBMC and Forsyth Medical Center. This has caused a spiked increase in ER visits for those with a mental health crisis.

With the focus of Mental Health Month being “Mind Your Health,” what suggestions would you give our readers?

One primary thing we should each understand is the impact stress has on our lives. It has a huge impact on our physical health, all of our relationships, and our job performance. By recognizing our stress, we may do things to lessen it. Being proactive, rather than reactive, is good self-care. Using this approach, people have a safety system in place if a crisis occurs.

In conclusion….

“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Taking care of yourself is a sign of strength. Remember: dealing with stress can actually save your life!”
Quoted from “Message of the Week,” Winston-Salem Journal, 5/5/06

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