Mercy Community Healthcare hosted its seventh annual fall fundraising dinner at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in downtown Franklin last week. 

The event held on Oct. 20 aimed to raise $25,000 for the continuation and improvement of Mercy’s services — especially in the nationally oversaturated and much needed mental health field.

“It’s really important to this community that Mercy is in a position to be able to continue those services to be able to meet the needs that our growing in this community,” said Mercy CEO Cindy Siler. 

In September, Mercy opened its new building that consolidates all its services under one roof. This milestone in the health care center’s journey means Mercy can continue to provide elevated care and services for the people that need it most in the community. 

It also means that Mercy can turn its attention to bolstering its mental health services now that it has a permanent and functional roof over its head. 

“As I’ve said every dinner for the last seven years, mental health is a serious thing to me,” said Dottie Bullard, CAO at Mercy. “Mercy Community Health center is a safety net for those who lack the resources to pay for mental health services.” 

Studies have found that one in five adults experience mental illness. Statistics like these show the need for mental health care in our country, but with high provider rates and low capacities for new patients, finding care can be extremely challenging.

“Mental illness is not a respecter of person, it is an equal opportunity impactor,” said Jewyl Gibson, a mental health professional. “Just because you don’t have a diagnosable illness in the DSMV does not mean you are mentally well.”

During the dinner, patients and practitioners shared their stories of how Mercy has impacted their lives for the better. Young mental health patients expressed how Mercy brought them out of unforgiving places in their lives and gave them the tools to gain mental fortitude. 

Mercy provides a place for people who have nowhere else to go. Through community support, donations and sponsorships, Mercy can give those in need mental health care at no or an affordable cost. 

“We serve the most vulnerable neighbors in Williamson County and the surrounding counties,” said Bullard. “Mercy’s mission is to reflect the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by providing excellent health care to all and support to their families,” added Siler. 

Find more information about Mercy Community Healthcare at https://mercytn.org/.