Sure, the Barton County Commission proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month Monday morning, but Center for Counseling and Consultation Director Julie Kramp said mental health is about more than that.

“We want to remind you that mental health is something that goes on every day,” Kramp told the commissioners. “It affects your family, it affects children in school, it affects everyone.”

We live in a very health conscious time, she said, adding there is an emphasis on eating well and exercising. But, the only time mental health comes up is following a suicide or other violent tragedy. “We want mental health to be accepted as a part of health care.” 

Along these lines, she mentioned efforts to teach mental health first aid as being as important as teaching medical first aide.

To help with this, she said the Center will hold its annual Mental Health Awareness Day from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at the Center’s Great Bend facility, 5815 Broadway Ave. With about 90 employees, the agency serves Baron, Rice, Stafford and Pawnee counties with offices in each.

“Hopefully, we will recognize that every day is mental health awareness day,” Kramp said.

“I can attest to how hard everybody works,” commission chairwoman Jennifer Schartz said. She sits on the Center’s board and noted how closely it works with other entities.

“If we have healthier people mentally, then everybody benefits,” Schartz said.

The proclamation 

reads:

WHEREAS, mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, everyone experiences times of difficulty and stress in their lives; and

WHEREAS, prevention is an effective way to reduce the impact of mental health conditions; and

WHEREAS, there is a strong body of research that supports specific tools that everyone can use to better handle challenges, and protect their health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, mental health conditions are real and prevalent in our nation; and

WHEREAS, with early and effective treatment, those individuals with mental health conditions can recover and lead full, productive lives; and

WHEREAS, each business, school, government agency, health-care provider, organization and citizen shares the impact of mental health problems and has a responsibility to promote mental wellness and support prevention efforts.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED by the Board of County Commissioners of Barton County, Kansas, that May 2018 will be known as Mental Health Awareness Month in Barton County and that the Commission urges the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Barton County to recommit to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, the steps citizens can take to protect their mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions.