Mental Illness Awareness Week recognized by City Council
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula City Council
Published: October 18, 2006
Recognizing Mental Illness Awareness Week, the number one cause of hospital admissions nationwide, was a priority for the City Council at the October 3 meeting.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Recognizing Mental Illness Awareness Week, the number one cause of hospital admissions nationwide, was a priority for the City Council at the October 3 meeting. Councilman John Procter presented the Proclamation to Fred Robinson, executive director of ARC Ventura County.
Severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe anxiety disorders, borderline personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorders affect one in every five families on an annual basis, noted Procter. “Severe mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes and heart disease, and are the number one reason for hospital admissions nationwide.”
Severe mental illnesses have been scientifically proven to be “highly treatable illnesses of the brain,” and research is producing “tremendous breakthroughs in the understanding of mental illness, resulting in more effective treatments that allow people to reclaim full and productive lives.” But, added Procter, severe mental illnesses “continue to be shrouded in stigma and discrimination from societies’ prejudices, causing those who are affected to be cast as second-class citizens.” Only raising public awareness of mental illnesses, their causes, and treatments will decrease the public’s misunderstanding of same, noted Procter.
“One in five families in Ventura County” are affected by mental illnesses, stated Robinson, a long time activist and professional involved in the fields of developmental disabled and the mentally ill. Robinson commended the city for their stance on providing services to those affected by mental illnesses and developmental disabilities: “You have taken it very, very seriously,” and provided housing, employment and support. “I offer my sincere thanks.”
Robinson had offered supportive testimony to the Council during the process that allowed the conversion of the Royal Oaks Motel on West Harvard Boulevard into a facility offering independent living and social services for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill.
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