HomeMy WebLinkAbout16-059RESOLUTION NO. 16-059
A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 2016 AS
"MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH" IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the
following determinations:
1. Serious mental illness affects one in every five Americans—children, adolescents and adults.
It is a highly treatable medical illness of the brain, posing the same concern as cancer, heart
disease, diabetes and other illnesses. Scientific research is constantly working toward
breakthroughs in the understanding of mental illness, resulting in more effective treatments
to allow people to reclaim full and productive lives.
2. Mental health is essential to everyone's overall health and well-being and helps to sustain an
individual's thought processes, relationships, productivity and ability to change or face
adversity. Mental health illness adversely affects those abilities and often is life-threatening
in nature.
3. Misunderstandings about mental illness often wrongly impose a stigma on individuals coping
with mental illness. One in 17 adults live with mental illness such as major depression, bipolar
disorder or schizophrenia. One-half of chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14. In
2014, there were 46 suicides in St. Lucie County. Long delays often occur between the time
symptoms first appear and when individuals get help.
5. It is important to maintain mental health and learn the symptoms of mental illness in order
to get help when needed. Public education and civic activities can encourage mental health
and help improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
6. New Horizons of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee, the community's non-profit provider
of recovery -oriented behavioral health services and Suncoast Mental Health Center both
remain committed to improve the qualityof life for individuals and families in our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
1. This Board does hereby proclaim May 2016 as "MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH" in
St. Lucie County, Florida to increase public awareness of mental health and to promote
treatment and recovery. Every citizen and community can make a difference in helping to
improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 19`h day of April 2016.
ATTEST: BOARD OF CO NTY CO ISSIONERS
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