Brunswick County’s Rotary Clubs holding Mental Health Summit, screening of “The Veteran’s Battlefield” on February 2

Brunswick County’s Rotary Clubs are holding a Brunswick County Mental Health Summit on Friday, February 2, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation, located at 795 Ocean Highway West, Supply, NC 28462. The event, which is open to the public, will include an overview of mental health issues in Brunswick County, information on resources available, a screening of “The Veteran’s Battlefield,” and an opportunity to network with resource providers. RSVPs are helpful but not required. For more information or to RSVP, visit https://lelandarearotary.org/mentalhealth.

“Mental health is an important issue that affects every single one of us, either directly or indirectly,” said Frank Williams, president of the Leland Area Rotary Club and a member of the Rotary District 7730 Mental Health Task Force. “We hope this summit will raise awareness of mental health issues in Brunswick County, connect people with resource providers, and encourage those who need support to seek it.”

The summit is being sponsored by the Leland Area Rotary Club, Southport Rotary Club, Southport Evening Rotary Club, Shallotte Rotary Club and South Brunswick Islands Rotary Club.

In announcing his Presidential theme, Create Hope in the World, 2023-24 Rotary International President Gordon McInally encouraged Rotarians to come together to offer our time, talents, and resources to Create Hope in the World through several key initiatives, including mental health. A July 6, 2023 Rotary International blog post expands on the importance of mental health, specifically citing the need to:

• Erase the stigma associated with discussions of emotional well-being;
• Raise awareness of mental health needs; and
• Improve access to mental care services.

The Veteran’s Battlefield is a documentary produced by the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and 100 Strong Productions that explores veterans’ challenges in North Carolina and how counties and residents can best support our veteran population. North Carolina is home to around 700,000 veterans and has the eighth-largest veteran population in the nation. For more information, please visit https://www.theveteransbattlefield.com.