On May 1, County Executive George Latimer officially launched May as “Mental Health Awareness Month” in Westchester. Latimer announced the annual recognition would appear in digital form outside the Westchester County Center for the month of May. A banner will also be displayed in the entranceway
of the Michaelian Office Building, in addition to a series of other initiatives spearheaded by the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health. The message of Mental Health Awareness Month is that mental health wellness is for everyone, and there are practical tools that everyone can use to improve
mental health.
“This is one of the few occasions I get as County Executive to officially declare May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Westchester,” Latimer said. “The importance of this event is obviously promoting good mental health, which is more relevant today than ever as we continue to face the impacts of the
pandemic as a community. There is a stigma that is often attached to mental health needs, and we want to take time this month to turn the conversation towards wellness and resilience.”
This year, in recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which ran from May 2-6, Latimer announced the county’s recent award of a New York State Office of Mental Health System of Care Expansion Grant. This grant will allow Westchester to establish a Children’s Cabinet. The Children’s Cabinet, consisting of county departments and key stakeholders, will be charged with strengthening collaboration between the various child-serving systems. This will
be accomplished by using a strategic framework to better share data, promote best practices, and identify gaps in meeting the needs of children and families.
“It is because of a lack of education and communication that mental health issues are still so prevalent, I hope that discussions and involvement like this will help to remove the stigmas surrounding mental illness and encourage young people to reach out and seek help for themselves and those around them, as it
did for me when I struggled with the aftermath of the pandemic,” said Sarah Nabi, a sophomore at Hendrick Hudson High School.
Mental Health Awareness Month is a nationwide effort to address and overcome the stigma associated with mental health needs. One in five people will experience some type of mental health illness during their lifetime, but everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.
As part of the county’s efforts to promote May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the county Department of Community Mental Health is launching a “Tweet a Day for May” campaign, sharing information about events, ideas and resources. Posts will be accessible by going to: Twitter at @WestchesterDCMH,
Facebook at @westchesterdcmh and Instagram at westchester_county_dcmh.
“The mental health of all Westchester County residents is a top priority,” said Michael Orth, county Department of Community Mental Health commissioner. “The pandemic continues to take a toll on everyone’s mental health. Knowing the signs and symptoms and who to link to if you are concerned about
yourself or a loved one is an important first step in getting help.” Other training and awareness events for May as Mental Health Awareness Month will include
Mental Health First Aid Training throughout the month, NAMI of Westchester Walk on May 14, a community training forum, “Supporting People with Mental Health and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Involved in the Justice System on May 13, and many other events.
For additional information on resources and training programs, contact the Department of Community Mental Health at 995-5220.
(Submitted)
