HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-05-2004-6bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 5, 2004
Action Agen a
Item No. -
SUBJECT: Mental Illness Awareness Week
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gwen Harvey, ext. 2300
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To proclaim the week of October 3`d through the 9th as Mental Illness Awareness
Week,
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally III
(NAMI) has asked the Board of County Commissioners to proclaim the week of October 3`d
through the 9th as a period aimed at reducing the stigma and providing information to the public
on mental illness, Mental illness is treatable and more common than heart disease or cancer in
the US population. The theme NAMI has chosen far the week is "Don't Be Afraid to Ask.• About
Getting Help for Mental Illness, Living with a Loved with Mental Illness, What it's Like to Have a
Mental Illness" The Orange County Chapter is planning a number of activities to better inform
the community about mental illness and what can be done to help, including a service at
Community Church of Chapel Hill, an article in The Independent, and news items on WCHL
Radio.
A representative of the Orange County Chapter of NAMI is planning to attend the meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the
Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK
October 3-9, 2004
WHEREAS, Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 3-g, 2004) is aimed at
reducing the stigma about mental illness and getting information to family members
and people with mental illness; and,
WHEREAS, The Orange County Chapter of the National Alliance for the
Mentally III is an organization of family members, parents, sons, daughters, spouses,
siblings and people living with mental illness; and,
WHEREAS, Mental illnesses are no-fault brain disorders for which there is
effective treatment; and,
WHEREAS, Mental illness, which affects one out of every five families, is more
common than heart disease or cancer; and,
WHEREAS, It is important to provide information about mental illness to the
community; and,
WHEREAS, Silence and stigma add to the difficulty of living with mental
illness; and,
WHEREAS, Family members and people living with mental illness are often
afraid to ask for help or information or do not know where to turn for accurate and
supportive information and help; and,
WHEREAS, The theme of Mental Illness Awareness Week in Orange County
is: Don't Be Afraid To Ask;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners do hereby proclaim the week of October 3'd through the 9~h, 2004 to
be Mental Illness Awareness Week and urge all residents to educate themselves
about mental illness so that no one need be afraid to ask:
--About getting help for mental illness,
--About living with a loved one with mental illness, or
--What it is like to have a mental illness.
This fifth day of October, 2004.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners