Letter from the President

Everyone likes a good origin story. Here’s ours. The idea of Skyland Trail developed more than 35 years ago, when a local businessman – Charles West - became determined to help a friend. The friend, whose family member needed mental health treatment, was seeking a community-based program focused on recovery instead of institutionalization. At the time, no programs in Atlanta offered that model of care.

Charles West organized a founding board of directors. They toured the country, visited programs, and developed a vision for a new kind of mental health treatment here in Georgia. We opened our doors in 1989, serving four patients in a small apartment building. Today, we serve more than 500 individuals each year on five campuses, including the J. Rex Fuqua Campus for adolescents that opened in 2019.

Skyland Trail’s story began with a small group of people seeing a need, finding a solution, and building community support. Our story continues today. As new needs arise, we find new solutions. And we are so grateful for the new generations of community leaders moving our mission forward.

Our Journeys magazine tells the story of Skyland Trail through the voices of all those in our healing community - our clients, families, volunteers, staff, and donors. Explore this issue of Journeys magazine to learn how:

• teens in our adolescent program are finding a healthy future
• adults of all ages overcome depression to enjoy the present
• patient outcomes research improves patient progress
• new specialized therapies address unique treatment needs
• individuals and organizations engage with our mission through giving and events

As we celebrate 35 years, we celebrate each milestone you helped us reach, each story of recovery you helped make possible, and each family you helped find healing. Community support is our origin story. We invite you to be a part of the community that helps us write the next chapter. Thank you.

Sincerely,