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File #: 25-2864    Version: 1 Name: RESOLUTION DECLARING MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
Type: Consent Calendar Resolution Status: Approved
File created: 5/14/2025 In control: Board of Commissioners
On agenda: 5/15/2025 Final action: 5/15/2025
Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION RESOLUTION DECLARING MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN COOK COUNTY WHEREAS, since 1949 May has been recognized as national Mental Health Awareness Month by organizations, advocates, healthcare providers and leaders as a time to draw awareness to issues, research and resources connected to mental health; and WHEREAS, mental health is an essential part of each person's overall health and wellness; and WHEREAS, mental health impacts a person's emotional, social, environmental, financial and overall well-being, with significant disparities among racially and ethnically diverse communities; and WHEREAS, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year; 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness; 1 in 6 youth ages 6-17 experience a mental disorder each year; 50% of all lifetime illness began by age 14 and 75% by age 24; and suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death of children ages 10-...
Sponsors: BILL LOWRY, ALMA E. ANAYA

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PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

RESOLUTION DECLARING MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN COOK COUNTY

 

WHEREAS, since 1949 May has been recognized as national Mental Health Awareness Month by organizations, advocates, healthcare providers and leaders as a time to draw awareness to issues, research and resources connected to mental health; and

 

WHEREAS, mental health is an essential part of each person’s overall health and wellness; and

 

WHEREAS, mental health impacts a person’s emotional, social, environmental, financial and overall well-being, with significant disparities among racially and ethnically diverse communities; and

 

WHEREAS, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year; 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness; 1 in 6 youth ages 6-17 experience a mental disorder each year; 50% of all lifetime illness began by age 14 and 75% by age 24; and suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death of children ages 10-14; and

 

WHEREAS, historic and ongoing disinvestment in Black and Brown communities contributes to disproportionate health outcomes due to factors including lack of access to adequate and affordable mental health services, higher rates of crime, violence and incarceration that result from systemic disinvestment; and

 

WHEREAS, people with mental health disorders are over-represented in the justice system with the federal Substanse Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reporting 18% of the general population having a mental illness with 44% of individuals in jails and 37% of individuals in prisons having a mental illness; and

 

WHEREAS, a broad scope of behavioral health services is needed to support the mental health of our residents, including prevention and early intervention, treatment, recovery and support services, and crisis care; and

 

WHEREAS, to achieve mental health parity, systems-level collaborative efforts are necessary to improve service coordination across behavioral health, housing and criminal legal systems; and

 

WHEREAS, Cook County is committed to improving the health and well-being of all residents; and

 

WHEREAS, the Healthy Communities pillar of the Cook County Policy Roadmap reiterates our commitment to reducing residents’ barriers to accessing health services, including a commitment to a public health approach to supporting healthy communities that emphasizes trauma-informed strategies for mental health and community safety, and a commitment to advancing policies and programs that encourage healthy, active living and overall wellbeing through collaboration and partnership with government agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare providers; and

 

WHEREAS, Cook County’s commitments to strengthening ecosystem of mental health services the have most recently included awarding $24 million to 31 awardees for the Building Healthier Communities: Behavioral Health Initiative in 2022 and 2023, awarding over $44 million in grants to 53 organizations for the initiative Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County in 2024, opening the Mental Health Triage and Stabilization Center at Provident Hospital and the Bronzeville Health Center in 2025, and partnering with the National Alliance for Mental Illness to sustain a Mental Health Hotline for Suburban residents; and

 

WHEREAS, Cook County remains committed to supporting improved access to mental health services through qualified health care provider agencies and cross-agency collaborations; and

 

WHEREAS, anyone experiencing mental health challenges, feeling overwhelmed, or just needing someone to talk to can call, text or chat 988, the Nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; and

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Month of May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in Cook County; and

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Cook County, led by the Cook County Board President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners (County Board) in collaboration with Cook County Health (CCH) and the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) commit to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health issues, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health, and commit to continued and increased cross-agency partnerships and partnerships with community-based organizations to address the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions

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