It took years for Kathy Townsend to heal from the trauma of losing her mom to suicide. She was a young girl at the time, and now the mother of two wants to help others experience a day of restoration, reflection and renewal of their own.

Townsend is hosting the inaugural Healing Together Retreat on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, 1230 Macedonia Road NW in Brookhaven. Tickets are $20 which covers a meal from Diamond J Meat and Seafood as well as supplies for attendees. Registration by Monday, May 12, is requested to give an accurate count for the caterer. To register, contact Townsend at 601-669-1693 or email kltownsend13@gmail.com.

At the retreat, attendees will participate in several activities designed to rejuvenate their body, mind and spirit. They’ll learn controlled breathing and relaxation by candlelight taught by Heather Emory of Rhythm of Grace Yoga Faith Studio, practice guided journaling, learn self defense from a representative of Pursuit Brazilian Jui-Jitsu & Fitness, and complete a healing art project.

The retreat is designed to give attendees the opportunity to fellowship with others, and to walk away with practical tools to manage anxiety, depression, and more

“It’s about self care. It’s OK to take time out for yourself,” she said. “Taking time for you is important.”

Townsend is the guest speaker for the event and will give her testimony and tell how her faith helped in the healing process after her mother’s suicide.

“It took me many years to get over it,” she said.

Part of the process involved Joshua Townsend, who she met in 2013 while stationed at Pearl Harbor in 2013.

“I was not a believer in Christ until I met him,” she said.

They married and she was baptized in the Pacific Ocean.

They eventually settled in Brookhaven with their son and daughter and attend Macedonia Baptist. Townsend is the bookkeeper for Loyd Star Attendance Center.

Townsend is also a mental health coach and decided to host this retreat in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. She’d like to make it an annual event. She hopes that by teaching others to deal with their struggles it may help them talk about it more easily.

“There’s a big stigma attached to mental health and people can be too scared to talk about it,” she said. “We all have our own personal struggles and there are positive ways to cope with it.”

Counselor Megan Hamm, who owns Time for a Change Counseling, believes healing happens in community so they are offering scholarships to Townsend’s retreat to anyone who can’t afford to pay for their own.

“We’re sponsoring two individuals to attend this retreat because everyone deserves access to spaces that prioritize rest, reflection, and resilience, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month,” she said. “As a mental health provider and community advocate, I see firsthand how powerful these experiences can be. Supporting events like this isn’t just a sponsorship, it’s part of our mission to break down barriers and build hope.”

To claim a scholarship from Hamm, or to offer to sponsor others, contact Townsend at 601-669-1693.