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Presented by Mayor Brian J. Bagley, the Longmont City Council has declared a proclamation designating May 2018 as "Mental Health Awareness Month."
Observed since 1949, the purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illness. The council's hopes are to increase the understanding about the realities for those living with mental challenges (such as depression and bipolar disorder), erase stigma around mental illnesses and bring attention to strategies for helping achieve mental health and wellness.
According to the proclamation, "one in every five Americans will experience a mental health issue and one in every ten young Americans experience major depression." And because of that, "there is a need for increased awareness of, and access to, mental health resources and crisis services in Longmont," as stated in the proclamation by the Longmont City Council.
The proclamation states that "supporting Action for Mental Health is a growing movement of community members, faith leaders, local government, nonprofits and businesses working to bring educational resources and awareness to Longmont; and WHEREAS, there are a number of events planned in May including special presentations on mental health, community conversations and Mental Health First Aid trainings."
Julie Phillips, project coordinator, accepted the proclamation.
Phillips states, "Thank you Mayor and City Council Members. In the last year we had 1100 people train in mental health first aid across the community, 100 of those are City of Longmont employees. One of the challenges we have for the whole community is to get out and take the class. We are challenging the 1100 who have taken the class to tell others and to share that training opportunity, because all the things we are doing right now is at no costs to Longmont community members."
