Birmingham Provides Self-Care Tips During Mental Health Awareness Fair

By Keisa Sharpe | For The Birmingham Times Take care of yourself. That was one clear and important message during the City of Birmingham’s third annual Mental Health Awareness Day last Friday, in partnership with Nurture of Alabama, a Birmingham-based non-profit organization that provides support and counseling services. Crystal Mullen Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Nurture, said it’s crucial for people to recognize the state of their mental health which is needed to lead productive lives. “Suffering in silence can be impactful,” she said. “It can greatly impact stress, and stress can cause physical issues …  because the two are married. We want people to be self-aware in our community of their mental health challenges and I think this event provides an outlet.” The day marked an important opportunity to have a conversation around challenges in the African American community, she added. “Ultimately, it’s important for our community to thrive, and it’s important for us to recognize [mental health] impairments if they are present,” said Mullen Johnson. Dr. Hernando Carter, of ArchWell Health located at 3209 Ensley 5 Points West Avenue, offered straightforward advice. “There is an important intersection between your physical and mental health.” “If...