THANK YOU to EVERYONE who participated in the events April 3-5, 2014 in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Mental Health America of South Carolina.

On Thursday April 3, 2014, we enjoyed meeting together on the Bull Street campus of the South Carolina State Hospital one last time to honor those who have gone before us as individuals with mental illness, their families, mental health practitioners, and our faithful advocates for mental health. 

On Friday April 4, 2014, a special awards dinner, Champions of Mental Health, was held to honor those who have shown exemplary service in their field and who have served as inspirations to many through their dedication to serve those with mental illness in our state.

The following awards were presented at the Champions of Mental Health Awards Ceremony:

The Recovery Ambassador Award was created to honor persons who have helped facilitate the Walk of Recovery for those who have mental illness. This year's award recipient has dedicated her life to education herself about mental health and substance abuse so that she can teach others how to start a personal journey of recovery. She has spent tireless hours in helping families and individuals learn techniques to overcome communication and mental health challenges. She has written three books on recovery skills and teaches classes on recovery and conflict resolution. She is active in her community, serving on several non-profit boards such as the Faces and Voices of Recovery. The 2014 Mental Health Champion Recovery Ambassador Award was presented to Beth Padgett.

This year, there are two Mental Health Professional Awards presented. Mental Health Professionals are the front line staff workers who work everyday helping people change their lives for the better in the mental health field. The first award recipient is not an individual who measures the amount of work he should do by what he has paid by by what the needs are of the people he serves. He has earned the admiration, love, and respect of his fellow co-workers and the clients he serves. He created and developed the Forensic Outreach Clinic to follow the NGRI population of the SC Department of Mental Health in 2000 and has continued to watch over and grow this program. His hard work, dedication to he job, and service to the mentally ill makes him a 2014 Champion for Mental Health- Mr. Bill Davis.

  was presented to someone who has worked in the mental health field for over 30 years. She has always been known to go "above and beyond" to provide quality care for the clients she has served. She recently spent 48 hours at the Group Home she now works at to make sure the clients were taken care of during the snow ans ice. She has a wonderful sense of humor which makes her special to her clients, which also makes her a Champion for Mental Health, Ms. Janet Burke.

 The recipient for the Outstanding Mental Health Program in the State is celebrating 10 years of offering a person centered approach to Recovery. The purpose of the program is to allow clients the opportunity to direct their own recovery and advocacy processes while promoting skills for coping and managing their illnesses. These services promote self worth, boundary setting, meaningful work and activity, crisis planning and building healthy relationships with others. The 2014 Champion for Mental Health Outstanding Mental Health Program is the Recovery Zone, otherwise known as the Peer Support Program for Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center.