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UGA Extension Mental Well-being

Helping Georgians manage mental health, stress & substance use to improve well-being.

Through our behavioral health initiative…

we provide research-based education on behavioral health topics in partnership with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the Georgia Farm Bureau to meet the needs of local communities. Each member of our team is involved in research on a range of behavioral health topics, from family well-being to positive youth development to farmer suicide prevention and community-based opioid abuse prevention.

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We’ve got resources to help you navigate behavioral health challenges.

Resource Hub

Education Resources

Podcasts

Journal Articles

On Family and Relationships

On Rural Mental Health

Posts from Thriving on the Farm

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Behavioral Health Team

  • Diane Bales

    Professor | Human Development and Family Science

    dbales@uga.edu

    Diane Bales is a Professor in Human Development and Family Science and an Extension Human Development Specialist with outreach expertise related to child development, stress and coping, farm stress, and opioid misuse prevention.

  • Alison Berg

    Associate Professor and Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist | Family and Consumer Sciences

    alisoncberg@uga.edu

    Dr. Ali Berg is a registered dietitian nutritionist and Extension specialist with expertise in research and outreach on lifestyle modification for prevention and management of nutrition-related chronic diseases. 

  • Abigail Borron

    Associate Professor | Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication

    aborron@uga.edu

    Dr. Abigail Borron is an associate professor and Extension specialist, who focuses on culture-centered communication and engagement, particularly related to university outreach programs and community development.

  • Maria Bowie

    Project and Grants Specialist | OLOD

    mbowie@uga.edu

    Maria Bowie is a grant specialist and leads projects addressing emergency preparedness, rural health, farm worker health and wellbeing and opioid and substance misuse prevention.

  • Courtney Brown

    Courtney Brown

    Community Health Engagement Coordinator | Family and Consumer Sciences

    courtms@uga.edu

    Dr. Courtney Brown is a registered dietitian nutritionist with expertise in community-engagement for clinical and translational research and vast experience working with youth to promote health.

  • Virginia Brown

    Extension Evaluation Specialist | OLOD

    vlb85850@uga.edu

  • Ted Futris

    Georgia Athletic Association Professor | Family and Consumer Sciences

    tfutris@uga.edu

    Ted Futris is a Professor and Extension State Specialist in the Department of Human Development and Family Science with expertise in promoting healthy couple, co-parenting, and parent-child relationships.

  • Anna Scheyett

    Professor | Social Work, Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication

    amscheye@uga.edu

    Anna Scheyett is a Professor and licensed clinical social worker with expertise in farmer and farm family stress and wellbeing, as well as broader mental health and substance misuse topics.

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