May 2022: Mental Health Awareness Month

WHEREAS, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being; it affects how we think, feel, and act; it also affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices; and

WHEREAS, mental health allows us to maintain relationships, take care of ourselves and our families, take care of our physical bodies, and respond and adapt to daily life changes; and

WHEREAS, 1 in 5 adolescents have had a serious mental health disorder at some point in their life; and

WHEREAS, 50% of all mental health disorders begin by age 14, and 75% of all mental health disorders begin by the mid-20’s; and

WHEREAS, suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst people aged 10 – 34 and the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, a lack of mental health awareness leads to devastating impacts on the wellbeing of individuals and society; and

WHEREAS, evidence-based mental and behavioral health training teaches adults how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in youth and adults and provides skills to use a 5-step action plan to help someone who may be facing a mental health challenge or crisis, such as suicide; and

WHEREAS, since taking office, my administration has proposed historic investments in behavioral health facilities, recruiting and retaining hundreds of mental health workers and expanding access to mental health professionals in schools; and,

WHEREAS, mental health trainings for teens are proven to reduce stigma and teach teens how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 2022 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Michigan.