Former Rowan County Sheriff’s Deputy, Jessica Argo, hosted the first annual Mental Health Awareness Sneakerball recently. The event aimed to highlight the health disparities among African Americans and educate people on the fact that only 4% of mental health therapists are African American. According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of teenage girls across the United States have continued to feel sad and hopeless since the pandemic.
Approximately 200 women and girls attended the event, which was able to raise awareness of mental health, especially among young women. Sponsors included Food Lion, Pizza Hut, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (a Greek organization of Salisbury), Partners, the National Mental Health Alliance, the Mental Health Association, and members of the Cavallas County Board of Education. Along with these sponsors, Inspire of the Carolina’s Inc., a Concord-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing mental health and community support services throughout North and South Carolina, also took part in the event.
The organization’s mission is to support teenage girls in their community, raise mental health awareness, and empower them to seek help or treatment. The event was held in support of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Post Lifestyle provides additional content on Facebook and Twitter @postlifestyles.