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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Tribune-Star - 5/1/2018

May 01--May is Mental Health Awareness month, and Hamilton Center plans to conduct several events using the theme -- Help, Hope, Healing.

The goal is to educate the community about the importance of fighting the stigma that mental health/addiction issues often bring and advocating for equal care for those in need of services.

According to Mental Health America, most Americans lack access to care. Fifty-six percent of American adults with mental illnesses did not receive treatment in 2016.

Fear and shame, lack of insight and limited awareness are just a few of the reasons that prevent individuals from obtaining necessary services.

Youth in Indiana are affected at a rate of 18 percent with reported diagnoses of autism, developmental delays, depression or anxiety, ADD/ADHD, or behavioral/conduct problems. Indiana has the second highest percentage of youth suicide rates in the nation, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hamilton Center is encouraging individuals to educate themselves about behaviors and activities that show early symptoms of mental illness and know when these behaviors are something that requires professional assistance.

Planned activities include:

--May 10: Hamilton Center is asking the community to wear green in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Day. Take pictures and tag Hamilton Center on Facebook.

--May 11: 27th Annual Sheriff's Shootout at Rea Park Golf Course, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's a fundraising for adolescent addictions programs. Register at www.sheriffshootout.com

--May 1 -- May 31: Popcorn will be given to consumers at all Hamilton Center locations.

--May 1 -- May 31: Banners will be placed throughout Hamilton Center's 10-county footprint in recognition of Mental Health Month.

--May 1 -- May 31: Indianapolis Power & Light building to be lit up green in recognition of Mental Health Month.

--May 1 -- May 31: The sign at each Hamilton Center location will be lit up green.

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional behavioral health system serving central and west central Indiana. Offices are located in 10 Indiana counties, with the corporate office in Terre Haute.

For more on Mental Health Awareness Month or Hamilton Center, visit www.hamiltoncenter.org or call 800-742-0787.

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