The unit, located at 919 E. 2nd St. in Sanford, is Seminole County’s only public Baker Act receiving facility and provides treatment for those with a potentially life-threatening mental illness.

“Our organization is seeing an increase in demand for our services, and now, thanks to our community partners, we will continue to meet that demand with a top-notch facility,” said President and CEO James P. Berko. “Without the support and funding from local, state and federal government, this would not have been possible.”

The new CSU has the capacity for 30 beds, a 43 percent increase from its old facility.

Founded in 1969, Seminole Behavioral Healthcare is a private, nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide comprehensive behavioral-health care. In the past year, more than 4,000 people in Seminole County were touched through the many programs provided by the organization. For more information, visit www.seminolecares.org.

Thank you!

We are pleased to announce the opening of our online store, Turning Point Enterprises. All of the products are hand made by clients of the Turning Point program. We are currently offering several holiday items including wreaths and gift boxes. Check back often for new products. You can visit the store by going to http://shop.seminolecares.org, or click on the button to the left titled "Turning Point Enterprises". All proceeds go to the Turning Point program.

Thank you for your support!

Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour interactive certification course designed to lower stigma surrounding mental illness by increasing ones skill in helping a person cope with a mental health crisis. It gives primary care providers, educators, businesses, and others in the public a tool and a resource to help overcome fear of a mental health crisis. Fear is generally the root of most stigmas. The stigma surrounding mental illnesses in the United States is no different: fear of not understanding the problem, fear of doing or saying the "wrong" thing and fear of not knowing what to do when someone needs help.

The course was developed in 2000 by Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm with the aim to improve the mental health literacy of Australians, it is now auspiced by ORYGEN Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry. The training program has since been replicated in six countries, including Scotland, Great Britain and Canada.

Last year the National Council has adapted this well-researched Australian program for the American public. And as of January 2008, the United States has been added to this list of other countries and Seminole Behavioral Healthcare was one out of seven agencies to be apart of this inaugural group training.

As a National Council member, Seminole Behavioral Healthcare was chosen to represent the state of Florida in leading and managing the certification program. The National Council's vision is that by the year 2025, Mental Health First Aid certification will be as common and as well-known as CPR and other first aid certifications.

To be apart of this vision, please contact Julie Emmer to request further information via email on our upcoming scheduled trainings or call by phone at (407) 831-2411 extension 1206.

Feel free to check out the following websites for more information about the Mental Health First Aid initiative in the United States, Florida and abroad.

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/

Florida Council for Community Mental Health
http://www.fccmh.org/

Australia Mental Health First Aid
http://www.mhfa.com.au/

University of Melbourne
http://www.unimelb.edu.au/