Mom calls on local program to aid son during mental crisis

Article by WNCT-TV
By Zora Stephenson
Published: September 14, 2016, 5:19 pm | Updated: September 14, 2016, 6:45 pm

Mom calls on local program to aid son during mental crisisSNOW HILL, N.C. (WNCT) – The dangers for mental illnesses continues to make headlines.

Pitt County’s Integrated Family Services offers help with a mobile crisis hotline for people to call.

Last year, most of the hotline’s calls were from adolescents ages 11 to 18.

As a result of these numbers, the group now offers services online, so teenagers can ask for help with the click of a button without picking up the phone.

“We saw a high influx of calls coming in for individuals that were depressed, having suicidal ideations,” said Brigida Morris, Integrated Family Services.

One teenager’s mom called on Integrated Services for help.

Brody Garner told his mom he wanted to take his own life and now, thanks to mobile crisis, he’s in a much better place.

On the outside, Brody Garner is just like any other teenager, but on the inside, the 16-year-old lives a dark life.

“I felt useless, I felt like I shouldn’t be here,” he said. “They would hit me. They would call me a loser, baby, and some people even told me that. I need to go die.”

Words take a toll.

“It messes with you,” he added.

One night, Brody was at his breaking point.

“He had said that he had thought about ending his life,” explained Donna Head, Brody’s mom. “And I thought, he needs help.”

But he isn’t alone. Millions of teens suffer from depression every day just like Brody. And suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents.

“I just felt like I couldn’t do nothing right for certain people,” Garner said.

But that Brody and those thoughts were felt three months ago. Things are different now thanks to a phone call made by his mother and lots of help from a local organization.

“I feel happy,” he said. “I feel like I’m worth something to everybody.”

Integrated Services set Brody up with a number of resources. Someone comes to his house three times a week for treatment.

And it’s working.

“They just really changed my life,” Garner said.

“They gave me my child back,” Head added. “And that’s the most important thing. “[It] is to have my son back.”

This family said they shared their story in hopes someone watching will make the same decision.

“If you don’t feel like it’s going to get better, get some help, before it’s too late,” said Garner.

Integrated Family Services offers a 24 hour mobile crisis line. They have staff available to help all ages.

You can contact them at 1.866.437.1821.

Posted in Community, Mental Health, Services