Press Releases
Mental Health America to Honor
Georgia Mental Health Advocate Stan Jones of Nelson Mullins
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 6, 2011)—Mental Health America will present an award to a longtime Georgia mental health advocate at its Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., June 9-11.
Stan Jones will be presented the Sandy Brandt Volunteer Service Award for his 40 years of dedicated service to Georgia affiliates and the national organization. The award is named in honor of Sandy Brandt, a long-time volunteer at the local, state and national levels who exemplifies the unselfish, dedicated mental health volunteer. The award is presented to a person who has exhibited extraordinary volunteer service and ongoing commitment to Mental Health America’s mission.
"We are proud to honor Stan, who has dedicated his life and career to improving the lives of mental health consumers and their families,” said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America.
During 40 years of dedicated service, Stan Jones has demonstrated sustained commitment to the mission of Mental Health America. He worked with Mental Health Association of Georgia and the National Mental Health Association (Mental Health America) through his work for the state of Georgia and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. When Stan returned to Georgia after his years in Washington, he accepted an invitation to join the Mental Health Association of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Mental Health Association of Georgia boards. He has provided inspired leadership at all levels of Mental Health America’s organization: local, state and national.
He also served 2 terms on the national board from 1990-1996. As the Vice Chair for Public Policy committee, Stan brought his Washington knowledge and his persuasive skills to the table in a powerful way. He has also displayed remarkable courage in the face of his son Tom’s illness and death, in 2003, as a result of the state mental health system’s failures to provide adequate community services and a safe hospital environment. Stan has been publicly open and candid about what happened to this young man who was so full of potential. He issued a clarion call for change, challenging the system to improve so that no other family would have to bear this most personal heartbreak. The success in 2009 of the Georgia amici group in bringing about a landmark settlement agreement with the Department of Justice is directly traceable to Stan’s tenacity and moral courage. This settlement is now requiring the state to invest millions of dollars in community services that will improve the lives of many, many people with mental illnesses and addictive disease.
Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) is the nation’s largest and oldest community-based network dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. With our more than 300 affiliates across the country, we touch the lives of millions—Advocating for changes in mental health and wellness policy; Educating the public & providing critical information; and delivering urgently needed mental health and wellness Programs and Services.
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Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or svetzner@mentalhealthamerica.net
