A celebration was held in honor of River Ridge Behavioral Health center’s 50th anniversary serving Warren County on Thursday.

Don Brown is the deputy executive director of the nonprofit organization. He spoke at the event.

“I always want people to know that mental health and mental illness, especially from a community standpoint, is not like it was in the 60s and the 70s and the 80s,” he said. “Deinstitutionalization is one of these things that has been talked about since I was in college back in the 70s, and it slowly, slowly, slowly happened. It’s here now.”

Brown said there are far fewer people in state institutions for mental health than there were in the past, thanks to the efforts of organizations like the center.

“They’re here with us, and we’re trying to help them, support them as much as we possibly can,” Brown said. “And believe me, it’s not easy because there’s still not enough resources to actually meet all their needs.”

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. also spoke at the event.

“For every day of the 50 years, it has had a tremendous impact on our community… when I was a youth court counselor, I… referred so many of our youth. And if you ever want to see a youth coming here and come out different, or adult for that matter, I think y’all provide that service in its totality that helps all of us,” Flaggs said. “I can truly say this, and that is that this community, Vicksburg, wouldn’t be the community that it is today had it not been for you being here 50 years.”

Warren County Board of Supervisors President Kelle Barfield also spoke.

“It’s a mark of that dedication that community volunteers stay involved because the need is great, but the service is incredible, what you do day-in, day-out. And you all know this isn’t a day job,” she said. “So when you think of some of those words that describe you and your staff, resilience comes to mind. And I don’t just mean physical resilience. I mean emotional, mental. It takes a lot for the staff to make all the tremendous things happen.”