A Mental Health Seminar will be provided to the Lincoln County community at no charge on Saturday, March 30.

The seminar will begin at 11 a.m. at the Lincoln Civic Center, 1096 Beltline Drive NE, in Brookhaven.

The effort was initiated by the Rev. Phillip Sterling, pastor of Grace Community Church in Brookhaven, who said the need is great.

“Over the past few months, I have had personal knowledge of suicides and people under pressure, depression,” Sterling said. “I’ve done more counseling sessions … with the economic situations, inflation, and rising crime, there’s just a turmoil.”

The pastor said he knows Region 8 Mental Health Services and licensed professional counselors in the area do what they can, but local resources are limited.

“I got with a certified counselor, Megan Hamm, as well as pastor Kendall Poole (Kelly M.B. Church, Osyka), Curtis Oliver, and Rev. Greg Warnock (First Baptist Brookhaven),” said Sterling. “We all agreed this was something that really needs to happen.”

As a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, the Brookhaven minister said he had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder for years and didn’t know what it was.

“I was finally diagnosed by the military, and thank God for benefits,” he said. “I couldn’t say I had PTSD, because I didn’t know what it was. You get angry and bitter for no reason. The least little things would send me over the edge. I’d need a break. My wife really brought it to my attention, but she didn’t know what it was, either. She just asked, ‘What’s going on with you?’ That’s when I started to seek help.”

Sterling said in his life he has never seen so many things in the world that contribute to depression and anxiety. People need to know there are resources available that will help, whether it’s physically, psychologically, or spiritually.

People also need to get past the stigma of mental issues.

“People think I can’t say, ‘I’m depressed.’ I can’t say, ‘I have mental issues,’” said Sterling. “But now it’s almost a blessing for me to say it. I can’t say I know exactly what someone else is going through, but I can understand it. I can empathize with them. Maybe that’s why the Lord allowed it to happen to me, because maybe He was preparing me and others to reach out and help people.”

The March 30 event, sponsored by Bank of Brookhaven, will feature three speakers — a high school counselor, Hamm, and someone who can address the military side of the issues. The speakers will share briefly, offering information and resources, and a time for questions and answers will be provided.

Two local music artists will be there as well — Topher Brown, worship pastor at CenterPoint Church and former member of The Band Perry and The Colonels; and Christian rapper RaJavion Stewart. Area caterer Kim Leggett will also provide refreshments.

For more information, contact Sterling, Hamm or Oliver through Facebook.