Hodges’ session at library to review mental health, addiction concerns

MADISON – Marie Hodges with Huntsville Hospital will discuss mental health and substance abuse issues on Friday in a public meeting at Madison Public Library.

(CONTRIBUTED)

Hodges’ session, “A Conversation on Mental Health and Substance Abuse,” will start at noon on Dec. 13. This free seminar is the latest installment in the “Health Matters at Madison” program, a collaboration between Huntsville Hospital and the library.

Hodges works as director of employee services at Huntsville Hospital.

In her presentation, Hodges will present statistics about the prevalence of mental health conditions and substance abuse. She will comment on ways to recognize and prevent these health threats.

“I encourage personal and community involvement to acknowledge issues and step up to challenges,” Hodges said. In her overview, she will “focus on important factors to support and promote mental health.”

All emergency departments within the Huntsville Hospital system provide screenings for inpatient psychiatric admissions. “Huntsville Hospital provides adult inpatient psychiatric treatment. Decatur Morgan West provides adult and adolescent inpatient psychiatric treatment,” Hodges said.

The hospital does not offer substance abuse treatment but helps with appropriate referrals.

“My role (at Huntsville Hospital) includes providing counseling services to our employees through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP),” Hodges said. “I conduct hospital staff education and have presented community topics for several years to various community groups.”

Hodges is interested in extending outreach to the community to encourage others to accept mental health and substance abuse issues “in the same light as other treatable medical conditions.”

For more information, call Teresa Allison at Madison Public Library at 256-461-0046.