Mental health is absolutely essential to social well-being. Having a community that advocates and educates for those struggling with mental illness or other injurious habits is a game changer for the stigma that dogs mental health awareness and addiction.
At the recent city council meeting on April 19 with all members present, Mayor Rich Stone proclaimed May Mental Health Awareness and Drug Court Month.
Humboldt County Director of Juvenile Services, Pauline Salla, was there to advocate for mental health awareness and explain the activities taking place around town through the month of May.
Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Michael Montero was also there to support the Drug Court Summit.
Mayor Stone explained that “Mental Health Awareness month is part of a nation-wide effort to raise awareness of mental illness and reduce the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health and to increase the awareness of tools and resources to prevent such challenges and to promote recovery.”
He added that one in five adults experience mental illness in a given year and one in 25 adults experience serious mental illness, with 65 percent of adults not receiving the help they need.
Salla said, “This is our second year that we are celebrating here locally,” and presented the May calendar, which is packed with activities for just about anyone.
Some of the future events include:
• May 6: Warrior Youth Team Bingo Night at the Boys & Girls Club 6-8p.m.
• May 9: Suicide prevention training at the Boys & Girls Club 12-3 p.m.
• May 10: Guarding Your Physical and Mental Health During a Changing World presentation at the Pleasant Senior Center 10:15 a.m.
• May 11: Youth Mental Health First Aid presentation at the Boys & Girls Club 3p.m.
• May 19: Stop the Stigma walk starting at Ridley’s
• May 20: Light Up the Green at the Winnemucca Municipal Golf Course in remembrance of those the community has lost to suicide
• May 21: Smash the Stigma dodgeball tournament at Lowry High School 9 a.m.
• May 25, 26: Applied Suicide Intervention Skill Training at Humboldt General Hospital
• May 27: Veterans Appreciation Breakfast at the courthouse 9a.m.
Judge Montero explained the significance of the Drug Court Summit, which will be celebrated at the convention center on May 23. The theme this year, Montero said, is celebration of those that are in recovery and those who support recovery. Montero added that there will be food trucks and vendors on the Nixon Lawn during the day and an education panel that evening to commemorate the day, which presents an opportunity to learn about the importance of Drug Court and the significance of recovery.
Mayor Stone said that “treatment courts improve education, employment, housing, and financial stability, promote family reunification, reduce foster care placement, and promote the rate of addicted mothers delivering babies who are fully drug-free,“ with the Sixth Judicial District Court having served more than 500 individuals and helped to reduce associated crimes.
Both of the proclamations mean that the community can recognize many different individuals who need support or have worked hard to progress with support from the community.
Don’t forget to visit https://humboldtsuicideprevention.org/ for more information about mental health crisis, suicide prevention, and the Humboldt Connection Suicide Prevention Task Force Facebook page for more resources.
