Press Release, For Immediate Publication, August 29, 2022

Spartanburg, SC — Mental Health America of Spartanburg County (MHA Spartanburg) is excited to update our community on changes within the organization. After serving as Executive Director from January 2021 – August 2022, Maggie Gainey is transitioning out of that role and joins the Advisory Board. There she will continue working with Advisory Board Chair Susan Lea. Lea, who joined MHA Spartanburg’s Advisory Board in 2018, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor with a private practice; she also serves as a Behavioral Health Therapist for ReGenesis Health Care providing services in a middle school. She served as Vice Chair of the Advisory Board starting in June 2021 and succeeded Mary Miles as Advisory Board Chair on July 1, 2022. After serving for 8 years with dedication and commitment, Miles stepped down from leadership of the Advisory Board. “We are grateful for her leadership and the immeasurable impact she has had on our community,” Lea said.

Ross Hill has been hired as the new Executive Director of MHA Spartanburg. “Ross brings clinical insights and expertise from his 6 years as a counselor to the position, and he is recognized for his commitment to the field of mental health,” reported Lea. Hill is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist / Supervisor Candidate and is certified as an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (AADC) and Clinical Supervisor (ACS) by Addiction Professionals of South Carolina (APSC). “I feel incredibly honored to have the opportunity to serve as Executive Director of MHA Spartanburg and to build on the incredible work done by Maggie and Mary,” said Hill. “Societal attitudes towards mental health have improved tremendously since MHA was founded in 1909, but there are still obstacles to overcome. I look forward to helping MHA Spartanburg with increasing awareness, overcoming stigma, and communicating how important mental wellness is.”

The mission of MHA Spartanburg is to promote positive mental health, to raise awareness about mental illness, to reduce stigma which prevents seeking treatment, and to begin the community conversation needed about these issues. MHA Spartanburg’s bimonthly educational series will next feature “Counseling to Promote Mental Wellness” by Dr. Kelly Kennedy on September 8, 2022, in a virtual presentation open to the public at no charge. The 7th Annual Mental Health Symposium will be held October 13, 2022, at the Piedmont Club, and is designed to provide quality clinical education and credit for mental health professionals. More information on these events is available at mhaspartanburg.org, or by contacting Executive Director Ross Hill at info@mhaspartanburg.org.