CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Inflation, the 2024 election, gun violence and more major stressors are all worrying for just about everyone. Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown decided Thursday evening was an opportune time to share resources and host a town hall focused on women's health and mental wellness.
The doors at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center were opened for people like Nicole Augustine, who told WCNC Charlotte she's no stranger to the struggle of overcoming the bad days.
"There's something about the moment that makes you almost like cement," she said. "The low parts are challenging."
Councilwoman Brown said the goal of Thursday's town hall was all about helping neighbors see they're not alone, hoping to shine a light for those needing it.
"I just thought 'we can do mental health' due to everything that's going on with the election, all the things our young kids see on TV," she said.
Part of the town hall involved opening up and sharing stories. Each of them were different, but the message was the same nonetheless as those who did share spoke about their struggles. Conversations continued through the evening, and Augustine said it was just the icing on the cake for someone like her to share.
"It's about allowing people around you to pour into you so you can be unhinged from that place of being stuck," she said. "I think that's when us as humans are our best: when we are operating at that level of love and light."
There are resources available nationally and across the Carolinas. To start your search for guidance, check out these resources from Charlotte's chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.