May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Family members and friends. Children and the elderly. Rich and poor. Mental illness can affect anyone - no matter what age, sex, gender or ethnic background.

“That’s why it’s important to recognize Mental Health Month and bring the issues and challenges surrounding mental health in California to the forefront,” said Larry Meredith, Director of Marin County Health and Human Services. 

The tradition of Mental Health Month began in 1949 as a unified effort to raise awareness of mental health issues and mental wellness for all.  This May, it is more important than ever that Californians understand the role that local programs play in improving the lives of the nearly 1 in 5 individuals in California who report needing help with a mental or emotional health problem.

Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by getting help.

“We see people achieve degrees of recovery every day”, said Patty Lyons Supervisor of the Helping Older People Excel (HOPE) Program and Senior Peer Counseling.  The HOPE Program works with Marin’s largest growing population, those over the age of 60. “Many of the older adults we work with have suffered from chronic and persistent mental illness their entire adult life.  There is nothing more gratifying than when we see an older adult learn to manage their symptoms and reunite with their family” Lyons said.

Without programs such as HOPE and others like it, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society can be staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives.

One specific goal of Mental Health Month this year is to challenge Californians to consider their views toward mental illnesses, and respect those who live with these disorders. It is important for all Californians to work together to create healthy, inclusive social environments and eliminate the stigma and isolation too often associated with mental disorders.

“We look forward to a future in which California is a national leader in the provision of mental health services and support systems that successfully advance hope, wellness, resiliency, recovery and full community integration for all adults, children and families,” Meredith said.

For more information, please visit www.marincounty.org/hhs  or go to the MarinGChannel to view a short video on "Knowing the Signs" of depression.