Williams participates in Rotary-led Mental Health Summit to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month
Brunswick County’s Rotary Clubs kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month by holding a Brunswick County Mental Health Summit on Friday, May 1, 2026 at Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation in Supply.
“Mental health is an important issue that affects every single one of us, either directly or indirectly,” said Frank Williams, 2023-24 President of the Leland Area Rotary Club and a past member of the Rotary District 7730 Mental Health Task Force. “Unfortunately, there is often a stigma attached to mental health that holds people back from seeking help when they need it. Let’s break that stigma.”
“We organized this event to raise awareness of mental health issues in Brunswick County, connect people with resource providers, and encourage those who need support to seek it,” Williams concluded.
The event included an overview of mental health in Brunswick County from Cecelia Peers of Trillium Health Resources, an update from the Brunswick County Substance Abuse, Addiction & Mental Health Commission, information on Brunswick County’s Treatment Courts, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office’s Anchor Initiative and ARROW Program, and a presentation on Brunswick County EMS’ Community Paramedic Program. The summit concluded with a panel discussion on mental health issues and resources. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with mental health service providers. For more information on mental health resources available in Brunswick County, please visit https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/343/Mental-Health-Substance-Abuse.
Brunswick County’s Rotary Clubs previously held a county-wide Mental Health Summit in February 2024 in support of 2023-24 Rotary International President Gordon McInally’s Presidential theme, Create Hope in the World. In announcing his theme, McInally encouraged Rotarians to come together to offer their 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 expanded 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.