5 Strategies to Strengthen Your Mental Health

The iHeartMedia Cares for Kids Radiothon filled the lobby of Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia Dec. 4 through 6 for its 25th year of fundraising. Surrounded by a winter wonderland of Christmas trees and red, white and silver balloon arches, volunteers took donations from generous supporters while iHeartMedia radio stations and WRDW-TV broadcast stories of the miracles that happen every day at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

The event raised $291,617 to support the children’s hospital, which is a part of the Children’s Miracle Network.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is life-changing,” said Ralph Turner, president of Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center. “This can support many of our young patients. They come to us and we take care of them. We don’t turn them away, and this really helps support our mission.”

Dr. Valera Hudson, pediatrician-in-chief, echoed Turner’s gratitude.

“We couldn’t do this without community support. We are so grateful for everyone who is here who helped pull this off,” she said.

Each year, iHeartMedia generously donates 72 hours of airtime as DJs from 96.3 Kiss FM, 104.3 WBBQ and 105.7 The Bull join WRDW-TV to broadcast live from the event, sharing success stories from patients and families grateful for the care they received.

“Thank you, CSRA, for making miracles happen. Exactly 291,617 miracles. Thank you!” said Ivy Elam, market president of iHeartMedia in Augusta.

Donations from the iHeartMedia Cares for Kids Radiothon are used throughout the year to purchase pediatric equipment such as vein finders for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and a gaming system for patients in the pediatric operating room.

They also support programs that are unique to a children’s hospital. These include the facility dog program, featuring three hospital-owned dogs who provide comfort and help Child Life Specialists more easily communicate with young patients. Donations also help fund summer camps for children living with chronic conditions—such as Camp Rainbow for cancer patients—which allow kids to just be kids while remaining under medical supervision.

Radiothon has ended, but donations can be made throughout the year by calling (762) 375-4004, by emailing Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia Director of Philanthropy Catherine Stewart or by visiting the Wellstar Foundation.

What started as a research study has grown into a systemwide commitment at Wellstar to improve access to mental and emotional healthcare. By embedding licensed mental health practitioners in the primary care settings, Wellstar is making it easier for patients to receive behavioral health services alongside their routine medical care. 

Today, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) work alongside primary care providers and pediatricians in more than a dozen Wellstar practices. And there are plans to grow that number.

“With social workers just steps away from an exam room, primary care physicians can make ‘warm handoffs’ for immediate behavioral health support,” said Dr. Jeffrey Tharp, chief medicine division officer for Wellstar.

“It helps lower barriers to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. And it removes some of the stigma some people associate with mental healthcare.”

Dr. Sophie Arkin, a psychologist in Wellstar’s Suicide Prevention department, said, “This is a great way to reach people who might otherwise fall through the cracks. It gives them a real opportunity to live a different life.”

Primary care clinicians connect adults to behavioral health specialists

Nearly 10 years ago, Wellstar was one of several health systems nationally that participated in a study of the effects of placing behavioral health clinicians in primary care.

The need is significant. Mental illness and substance use disorders are prevalent throughout the U.S. According to the 2024 State of Mental Health in America report, 22.5% of adults in Georgia had a mental illness in the past year. The report also said that 17% had a substance use disorder.

Primary care physicians at Wellstar routinely screen patients for depression, suicidal thoughts and alcohol or drug use. In other cases, they learn from conversations that patients may have:

• Anxiety or panic disorders
• Sleep disturbances
• Stress related to work, family life or finances
• Grief or unresolved trauma

Introducing the behavioral health clinician

When behavioral concerns emerge, the primary care team introduces the on-site clinical social worker. This specialist conducts an in-depth assessment to determine the next best steps for the patient. This is typically a short-term series of sessions that may lead to referrals to psychiatrists, psychologists or Wellstar’s suicide prevention team.

“One of the biggest strengths of this model is credibility,” Dr. Tharp said. “If a physician or nurse practitioner you trust says, ‘We have a counselor here I’d like you to meet,’ the patient is more likely to follow through.”

This model has proven especially effective for patients who are less likely to seek mental health support, such as men, seniors and caregivers.

Where primary and behavioral health cross paths

People with chronic conditions like diabetes, digestive disorders and kidney disease sometimes have or develop mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. As a result, patients may find it harder to:

• Get the follow-up testing and care they need
• Follow nutrition and exercise instructions
• Take medications according to their doctor’s instructions

Not treating behavioral health issues can contribute to patients’ worsening physical health and higher medical costs.

Conversely, many patients may go to their primary care physician because they’re having trouble breathing, their heart is pounding or they have frequent headaches. Or they’re sweating or feel faint, dizzy or nauseated.

Those can be signs of a medical problem. They can also be symptoms of an emotional or mental health issue. In that case, a behavioral health clinician is around the office corner.

“We know that stress and anxiety show up in lots of different ways in the body. Understanding that allows people to adopt a new philosophy about how to take care of themselves,” Dr. Arkin said.

Pediatricians screen and refer children for behavioral health

Childhood and adolescence are critical periods in development. Mental health issues can affect a child’s ability to learn, grow and develop healthy relationships both now and as an adult.

Pediatricians routinely screen children for behavioral health concerns. They ask questions about social, emotional and behavioral development. Screenings for autism risk begin in early childhood and depression screenings begin at age 12.

At Wellstar KenMar Pediatrics in Marietta and Kennesaw, pediatricians turn to their in-house behavioral health partner, Dr. Kayla Fitch. Common reasons to refer include:

• Behavior challenges
• Feeding disorders, such as extreme picky eating
• Mental health issues among children with chronic or acute illnesses
• Requests for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) evaluations
• Severe social or separation anxiety

While under her care, Dr. Fitch screens patients for anxiety and suicide risk.

“One of the things I’m the most passionate about is early anxiety treatment for kids. We can help kids when they’re 4, 5, 6 years old,” Dr. Fitch said. “I teach parents basic concepts around how to expose their children to anxiety-producing situations to decrease their anxiety.”

She helps children learn “coping strategies, like deep breathing and muscle relaxation. These are things kids can benefit from if we teach them creatively.”

Growing commitment to integrated care

Wellstar’s primary care model continues to evolve to meet the behavioral health needs of patients throughout their life. Time will bring even more collaboration and improved outcomes.

“It serves everyone—patients, families and doctors—to create these seamless connections between primary and behavioral health practitioners,” Dr. Tharp said. “We see the benefits every single day in our patients’ health and their outlooks.”

Learn more about behavioral health at Wellstar.

Clad in hard hats and neon construction vests, civic leaders and the media took their first look inside the long-awaited Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center on Nov. 14. Led by the hospital’s newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, Nelson So, groups toured the pharmacy, infusion space, operating rooms, and emergency department. Also on display was a nearly finished patient room featuring large windows for plenty of natural light and a digital whiteboard where patients can easily keep track of their medical information.

“This community has been asking for a hospital, and we’re going to deliver that to them in 2026,” So said.