Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring May 2024, as Mental Health Awareness Month in Rockville, Maryland
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Mayor and Council read and approve the proclamation.
Discussion
Initiated by Mental Health of America, May has been Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949. During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize those Americans who live with mental illness and substance use disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people of all ages. Today, more than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles, because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help. Many who suffer with mental illness turn to illegal substances as a way to cope. Currently, illegal drugs laced with Fentanyl in lethal doses, have become easily available. Fatal overdoses have occurred in our community.
Several public and private non-profit mental health service providers in Montgomery County recognize Mental Health Awareness Month by promoting mental health wellness in a variety of ways. Montgomery County Public Schools has recognized it as an opportunity to break down the stigma of mental illness and to encourage students and families to seek help if needed. School-sponsored initiatives and clubs (in middle and high school) promote recognition of stress, fear, anxiety, and depression as well as the healthy coping skills needed to address them. These initiatives heavily encourage children to seek the help of an adult for themselves or a friend when needed. Throughout the year, mental health services are provided in our communities. Through its Department of Housing and Community Development, the City of Rockville provides a variety of mental health wellness services for its residents: prevention and early intervention services, education seminars, and therapeutic recreation and counseling services for school-aged youth. In many of the County public schools, including several in the City of Rockville, providers of mental health counseling are given space and County funding to see students in the school building during the school day, thereby breaking down many barriers to seeking mental health counseling such as transportation, language, cost, and availability of providers. Adults are seen through mental health agencies, community clinics and/or their assigned healthcare providers.
This year represents the City of Rockville’s fourth time to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month. In recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month, the City’s Community Services Division, within the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), will recognize May as Mental Health Awareness month with their everyday mental health prevention, early intervention, and intervention services. They will also conduct Children’s Mental Health Matters activities, as part or Maryland’s public awareness campaign to promote mental wellness in children.
2023-2024 Key Mental Health Findings in America
• Mental illness affects more than 50 million Americans.
• In 2019-2020, 20.78% of adults were experiencing a mental illness.
• The vast majority of individuals with a substance use disorder in the U.S. are not receiving treatment. 15.35% of adults had a substance use disorder in the past year. Of them, 93.5% did not receive any form of treatment.
• Millions of adults in the U.S. experience serious thoughts of suicide, with the highest rate among multiracial individuals.
• Over 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life. 16.39% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. 11.5% of youth (over 2.7 million youth) are experiencing severe major depression.
• A large percentage of people go without treatment for mental illness every year.
• Cost is the biggest reason people go without the help they need; a robust health insurance plan could make a difference.
• Over half (54.7%) of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment.
• 6.34% of youth in the U.S. reported a substance use disorder in the past year.
• 59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Asian youth with major depression were least likely to receive specialty mental health care, with 78% reporting they did not receive mental health services in the past year.
• Nationally, only 28% of youth with severe depression receive some consistent treatment (7-25+ visits in a year). Most (57.3%) youth with severe depression do not receive any care.
• Nationally, 1 in 10 youth who are covered under private insurance do not have coverage for mental or emotional difficulties.
• In the U.S., there are an estimated 350 individuals for every one mental health provider. However, these figures may actually be an overestimate of active mental health professionals, as it may include providers who are no longer practicing or accepting new patients.
Mayor and Council History
This is the fourth year the Mayor and Council have recognized and proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month in Rockville, Maryland.