May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the City of Galesburg in particular is taking the opportunity to see how the community can improve its efforts to support good mental health.
Mayor Peter Schwartzman read a proclamation before Monday’s City Council meeting declaring May Mental Health Awareness Month in Galesburg.
The proclamation read in part, “Whereas each business, school,. government agency, healthcare provider, organization and citizen shares the burden of mental health problems and has the responsibility to promote mental wellness and support prevention efforts.”
James Sullivan spoke on behalf of the group that received the proclamation, saying there is still a lot of stigma around mental illness.
He says more than 50 percent will be diagnosed with a mental health illness or disorder in their lifetime and one in five Americans will experience mental illness in any given year.
Additionally, 1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental health disorder such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or Major Depressive Disorder.
Schwartzman says the city wants to redouble its efforts at addressing mental health in the community and will hold a work session in May on the topic.
The Mayor says they’re inviting several agencies to discuss their programs and ways the community can assist.
