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PROCLAMATION - Mental Illness Awareness Month <br />Chairman Adams presented the following Proclamation to Norwood <br />Stanhope, who thanked the Board for their past help with the <br />community and for their future participation in the programs. <br />PROCLAMATION <br />WHEREAS, mental illnesses are of grave concern and consequence to <br />the state of Florida, affecting over 2.4 million adults and 380,000 <br />children, or one in every five families in Florida each year with direct <br />and indirect cost in the billions of dollars; and <br />WHEREAS, major mental illnesses can now be diagnosed and treated as <br />effectively as many other disorders in medicine; and <br />WHEREAS, there are health disorders which affect peoples, thoughts, <br />feelings and behaviors that are collectively referred to as mental <br />disorders or mental illnesses; and <br />WHEREAS, mental illnesses are treatable and, in recent years, there <br />have been unprecedented developments in medications and treatment <br />outcomes for persons diagnosed with the most serious disorders, a <br />substantial number of these individuals receive no services; and <br />WHEREAS, the disabilities and disadvantages associ4ted with mental <br />illnesses can be prevented or lessened, and persons with a mental illness <br />can set and achieve personal goals to recover self- sufficiency and <br />reduce reliance on public supports and services; and <br />WHEREAS, persons with psychiatric labels suffer discrimination and <br />stigmatization because -of misunderstanding, fear and the myths <br />associated with mental illnesses; and <br />WHEREAS, persons with mental illness and their families have formed <br />self-help and support groups and have organized to advocate for expanded <br />resources and choice in treatment and services, and to work toward the <br />elimination of discrimination and stigmatization by informing and <br />educating the public about mental illnesses: <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE INDIAN RIVER COUNTY BOARD <br />OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS that the month of October, 1996 be designated as <br />MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS MONTH <br />in Indian River County, and the Board urges all local communities to <br />participate by undertaking a local campaign to improve public <br />understanding and education about mental illness, and urges all residents <br />to participate in such local educational opportunities. <br />Adopted this 8 day of October, 1996. <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA <br />Fran B. B. Adams, Chairman <br />BOOK , 99 PAct.332 <br />OCTOBER 8, 1996 <br />