Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. - "Your doorway to Choice, Hope and Recovery"

Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally set for August 13th

Families can get their kids off to a great start to the school year at the 2011 Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally set for Saturday, August 13th from 10 a.m. to noon at the Santa Fe College Gymnasium.

Avoid the crowds, print and complete registration forms before the rally. Parent and guardians click here, Chaperones, click here.

May is Mental Health Month

Did you know that 1 in 4 adults struggle with a treatable mental health condition each year? That’s almost 60 million people!

Meridian Celebrates Two Wins In The 2011 FPRA Image Awards

GAINESVILLE, FL, April 21, 2011 – Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. celebrated two wins on Thursday, April 21, as members from the Gainesville Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) gathered to recognize and celebrate the best of the region's public relations work.

Meridian’s Chief Medical Officer Selected for 2011 Psychiatric Leadership Program

GAINESVILLE, FL, April 6, 2011 – Meridian’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lawrence Adu has been chosen for the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare’s (National Council) 2011 Psychiatric Leadership Development Program.

Cause and effect in the Tucson shooting: By Maggie Labarta, Special to The Sun

On Saturday our country experienced another tragedy. Within hours, we hear that the young man responsible has left a trail of videos and other statements that make clear the he suffers from a mental illness.

Read Full News Story in the Gainesville Sun...

Celebrate Meridian’s Recovery Center Housewarming & Ribbon Cutting

On Tuesday, October 26th from 4:30-6:30pm Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. will hold a Housewarming & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Boy’s Recovery Center at 439 SW Michigan Street, Lake City, FL. Please join other community stakeholders to help celebrate newly renovated facility, with representatives from the Lake City/Columbia County Chamber of Commerce on hand to officially cut the ribbon at 4:45pm. For more information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Housewarming gift registries at Target and Walmart. For donation inquiries, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. Shares Community’s Shock And Grief

GAINESVILLE, FL, Oct 7, 2010, The events of this Monday are tragic and painful for everyone involved, whether directly touched or because of our shared sense of community. Meridian has been a part of the Gainesville community for almost 40 years. Many of our staff and those we care for have grown up and still live in the small area where the shootings took place. So, we, too share the community’s shock and grief.

Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally set for August 14th

Families can get their kids off to a great start to the school year at the 2010 Stop the Violence/Back to School Rally set for Saturday, August 14th from 10 a.m. to noon at the Santa Fe College Gymnasium

Avoid the crowds, print and complete registration forms before the rally. Parent and guardians click here, Chaperones, click here.

For the 11th straight year the community group People Against Violence Enterprises (PAVE) will be hosting the event, which is expected to draw about 3000 people. The event, sponsored by a variety of businesses and community organizations, including primary sponsor Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., offers entertainment, guest speakers and snacks. Meridian will also provide the first 1200 children attending the fair with free backpacks filled with school supplies.

Meridian Staff Honored at 2010 Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards Luncheon

Gainesville, FL – Meridian staff were honored at the 2010 Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards Luncheon, Tuesday, June 8, 2010 held at the Best Western Gateway Grand. Efforts of Meridian staff on joint, interagency projects resulted in increased efficiency and effectiveness, as well as, cost reductions and savings.

Meridian’s David Murphy, Vice President of Information Technology, Alan Paulin, Director of Outpatient Services, and March Ann Livengood-Peacock, IT Business Analyst, served on a Referral Process Team which developed an Electronic Referral and Reporting Web-Based System. . .

Meridian Celebrates Two Wins In The 2010 North Central Florida Image Awards!

Gainesville, FL – Meridian’s Advancement Department celebrated two wins on Tuesday, May 4, as members from the Gainesville and Ocala chapters of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) gathered to recognize and celebrate the best of the region's public relations work.

Two of Meridian’s staff, Kevin Coulson, Director of Marketing and Business Development and Krista Mitchell Cornell, Director of Development, shared the honor receiving an Award of Distinction and a Judge’s Award for PR work done for Meridian Behavioral Healthcare’s annual fundraiser, Illusion Extravaganza: Mega Magic with Franz Harary. . .

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. Receives Major Gift

$25K Grant Awarded from Capital City Bank Group Foundation

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan. 5, 2010 – Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. (MBHCI) received a $25,000 grant from the Capital City Bank Group Foundation. A non-profit organization which promotes recovery and offers solutions to those facing mental illnesses, addictions and other social challenges, MBHCI was given a “Tipping Points” grant. Every year, the Capital City Bank Group Foundation awards these grants to help non-profit organizations reach long-standing goals. Meridian will use these funds to support its Boys Recovery Center, a diversion effort for boys, age 11 to 17, offering a last opportunity to avoid juvenile detention.

“This grant will make an enormous impact toward the complete renovation of our Boys Recovery building,” said Karen Rice, Senior Vice President/Advancement for MBHCI. . .

Meridian featured on “Alachua County Talks”

A new edition of Alachua County Talks featuring Maggie Labarta. Ph.D., President and CEO of Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., premiered on Friday, December 18, 2009 on Community 12 TV. The interview provides viewers an interesting overview of Meridian and its long history of providing mental illness and addiction treatment in Alachua and surrounding counties.

Alachua County Talks airs at 7:30 p.m. every night except Thursday, and at 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. every day. Special or regular County Commission meetings may preempt any showing. . .

Meridian is proud to bring Mental Health First Aid to our communities

Mental Health First Aid. As Former President Bill Clinton said, "Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all."

The root of most stigmas is generally fear. The stigma surrounding mental illnesses in America is no different: fear of not understanding the problem, fear of doing or saying the "wrong" thing, and fear of not knowing what to do when someone needs help.

Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it makes people feel more comfortable managing a crisis situation and builds mental health literacy " helping the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. . .

Together We Can Make A Difference

Please help. Give what you can, any amount helps.

The economic crisis in Florida has caused funding cuts, revenue losses and forced community mental health and substance abuse agencies to slash budgets and cut back on programs and services. We must protect Florida families and prevent further losses. The Florida Council for Community Mental Health (FCCMH) and its sister organization, the Florida Council for Behavioral Healthcare are rallying your support.

Action for Behavioral Healthcare (ABC) is a way for you to play an active role in securing the future of mental health and substance abuse services and allow your voice to be heard. ABC collects funds to aid advocacy efforts; increase the prominence of the behavioral health industry and help win key political battles in Florida. . .

Meridian’s CARE Program Earns 1st Place for Innovation

Gainesville, FL – July 13, 2009 – Meridian’s CARE (Coping with Addiction through Recovery and Empowerment) Program earned 1st place for Innovative Program in the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association 2009 Substance Abuse Services Best Practices Awards.

The Best Practices Recognition Awards recognize programs that typify “best practice” methods or processes in substance abuse prevention and addiction treatment services. According to Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA), these programs’ efforts are shown to measurably improve service outcomes and the quality of life for program participants. A panel of experts. . .

Meridian Hosts 1st Annual Health & Prevention Youth Fair

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare - Starke - July 18, 2009

Starke, FL - July 7, 2009 - On Saturday, July 18, 2009 from 10:00am to 3:00pm, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., at 945 North Grand St., Starke, FL, will host its 1st Annual Health & Prevention Youth Fair. The event’s goal is to increase community awareness of prevention and local health services for the citizens of Bradford County. This outdoor event is free and open to the public.

The event will include fun and education for the entire family including: a moonwalk bounce house, a tractor train ride, free bicycle helmets, child car seats program, Smokey the Bear, pre-registration for physicals/Pop Warner physicals, finger printing by local law enforcement, free dental screens. . .

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare Visits U.S. Congress

Urges Support for Mental Health and Addictions Services

WASHINGTON DC, June 5, 2009, Representatives from Meridian Behavioral Healthcare in Gainesville, Alachua County will join nearly 350 public mental health and addictions administrators, psychiatrists, patients and community leaders from 40 states who are coming to Washington, DC June 9-10 to add their voices to the growing healthcare reform debate.

The local representatives, members of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council), are meeting to ask for the resources that people with mental illnesses and addiction disorders need to live full and productive lives.

NAMI's Family to Family Educational Program on Mental Illness

NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness

The Family to Family program is intended for family members of close relatives diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder (manic depression), Clinical Depression, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Anxiety disorder and other disorders.

The Course is FREE for family members and caregivers.

Meridian Receives Prestigious 2007 Award!

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare was just awarded the Business of the Year Award in the Non Profit category through the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce!

This award showcases Meridian's commitment to sound business practices and most importantly Meridian's mission of promoting recovery and offering solutions to those facing mental illnesses, addiction and other social challenges.