Fargo Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney, along with West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson and Dilworth Mayor Chad Olson, have joined together to recognize the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month by signing a joint proclamation. The proclamation encourages communities to increase awareness and understanding of mental health. Says Fargo Cass Public Health Mental Health Coordinator, Melissa Markegard, “Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being. Each of us has a responsibility to promote mental wellness and support those around us. Together, we can make a difference and reduce stigma.”
Mental Health Month was started by Mental Health America in 1949. The purpose of Mental Health Month is to raise awareness, educate the public about mental health conditions, and reduce the stigma that surrounds these conditions. One in five Americans will experience a mental health condition in a given year, and 50% of Americans will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. It is important that those experiencing early symptoms of a mental health condition know what to look for, and get screened.
For those who think they may be experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, Mental Health America offers free, anonymous, clinically-validated screenings at www.mhascreening.org.
City of Fargo/FCPH activities taking place:
- On May 1, Fargo City Hall will be lit in green, the color of mental health awareness, to mark the beginning of Mental Health Month.
- Launch of new FCPH mental health resources webpage: www.FargoCassPublicHealth.com/mentalhealth