The name of the band at right is "Night Nurses" . From Left (Davy Gibbs, drummer; Bassist, Mary Field; Thomas Wilcox, keyboard.)
The front of “Nuçi’s Space” ------>By Ashley Thompson
The blue building with “Nuçi’s Space” written in white letters across the front is more than meets the eye. The quaint structure is a library, a resource center, a practice facility for local musicians, and a place filled with hope.
The building houses the Nuçi Phillips Memorial Foundation. It was formed in 1999 by the Phillips family after losing their son, Nuçi, to suicide. The 22-year-old was a talented musician and attended the University of Georgia.
In pursuit of a new, open and welcoming way to help treat and support people dealing with mental illnesses, the foundation created a place for musicians, or anyone, to receive counseling, support and even musical enrichment in one place—or space.
What sets Nuçi’s Space apart from other mental health awareness organizations is its focus on musicians. Whether it’s the big bulletin board with “band seeks musician” notes posted on it, the stage that greets people entering the building, or the sound of a lead guitar mixing with drums in the background; music is everywhere.
Nuçi-patron Eric Keaton said the Space provides an affordable way for musicians to practice. Practice rooms are $6 to $8 an hour between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend and late night rates are $8 to $10 an hour.
“When it comes to practice space, it's the best in town,” said Keaton. “All the other places require people to rent the room on a monthly basis and it's more expensive [that way].”
Nuçi’s Space has become the face of mental health awareness in Athens, but takes a “come at your leisure” approach to offering support.
“We try to keep the ‘preachy’ stuff to a minimum,” said full time staffer Laura Ford. “We have a library of books and resources that people who have lost someone due a mental illness can come in and use; it’s open to the public.”
The main program Nuçi’s Space offers people dealing with mental illness is counseling, she said.
The Space works with about eight different counselors from Family Counseling Services. It’s the job of staff members to match clients with counselor best suited for their needs.
Staff member Will Kiser meets with people, mainly musicians, who come to the Space seeking counseling.
“I act as the middle man between the therapist and patient,” said Kiser.
The Space also works with a psychiatrist, Dr. Orr, when a client’s counselor determines they need medication in addition to counseling. The combination of medication and therapy has been proven to be the most effective treatment for depression, according to Ford.
The non-profit organization enables people to speak with a therapist, or counselor, for a $10 charge or a psychiatrist for $20--a fraction of normal rates.
The counselors and psychiatrists who work with Nuçi’s agree to see patients at a reduced cost.
The organization covers any amount over the advertised nominal fee, allowing people to receive affordable treatment.
Along with a few small grants, the Space is primarily funded through private donations, said Ford in an email. The foundation hosts fundraising events, such as the 5K Suicide Prevention Awareness Community Education Race, or S.P.A.C.E. Race, held this month on the University of Georgia’s campus.
Besides raising money, the goal of the race is to get people talking.
Chris Byron, who got his start volunteering and has now been employed by the Space for five years, said some people are still unaware of what Nuci’s Space is, and doing events such as the S.P.A.C.E. Race raises awareness to all the foundation has to offer.
“People drive by and think we’re a restaurant or something,” said 5-year staff member Chris Byron. “We want people to know we’re here and what we do. The S.P.A.C.E. Race is a fundraiser that also gets our message out.”
Nuçi’s Space has also teamed up with the University of Georgia and created the Nuçi’s Space Student Organization, providing a link between the Space and students. The student organization helps provide mental health awareness as well as ensure university students are aware of the resources Nuçi’s has to offer.
“The student organization is a liaison between UGA and Nuçi’s Space,” said third year English major and president of the organization, Lindsey Epperly.
Even with all the resources and outreach the foundation offers, the first step must be taken by the individual.
“People must first be willing to receive help, said Byron, we don’t push it on anyone. “But if [someone] wants help, or their friends are concerned for them and want to reach out, we’re here to offer it.”
Anyone interested in volunteering or interning for Nuçi’s Space can do so through their website, http://www.nuci.org/ or call (706) 227-1515
Edited by Anita George
Good improvements to this story. It's tighter and more substantive. The new source adds a lot.
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