LARNED — “The Quiet Epidemic: breaking the stigma of mental health issues,” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening, May 16 at the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Campus, 923 Carroll, Larned.  The Pawnee County Dems and The Center for Counseling and Consultation are hosting this free public event to bring awareness to the signs of mental illness, what help is available in the area, and how to improve the community for those with mental illness. 

Deborah Lewis is the president of the Pawnee County Democratic Committee. The committee hopes to bring many community informational events to the area in the future in order to open non-partisan dialogue about the issues facing residents of Pawnee County.  

Mental health affects everyone, she said. 

“It’s okay to talk about it,” she added. In fact, it’s a critical part of breaking the stigma behind the issue.  With help from The Center, attendees will also have a chance to discuss quality of life issues facing he area, and should walk away with more information about local access to care.