Four County Mental Health Celebrates
MENTAL HEALTH MONTH - MAY 2008
"What A Difference A Friend Makes"
Mental Health Month was created more than 50 years ago to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental wellness for all. This year’s theme is focused on an essential component of maintaining and protecting mental health and wellness: social connectedness. The tagline for this year’s observance is “Get Connected.” There are many ways of creating connections that support mental health:
- Get connected to family and friends to feel close and supported.
- Get connected to your community to feel a sense of belonging and purpose.
- Get connected to professional help to feel better when you’re stressed and having trouble coping.
Walk A MILE OF PENNIES (Go the Distance)
During the month of May our nation celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month. This celebration is designed to increase awareness about the social stigma associated with mental illness. Statistics reveal that one in every five people will experience a serious mental or emotional illness at sometime in his or her lifetime. To increase awareness a Mile of Pennies Drive is a fundraiser/public education event sponsored by the Sunflower Club. The goal of a clubhouse program is to provide support for individuals, who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. We help people become independent, productive citizens of the community through educational assistance, job training, employment support, wellness, and transportation.
The Clubhouse programs provide services to individuals residing in Elk, Chautauqua, Montgomery, and Wilson counties in SE Kansas that have experienced a mental illness. By collecting and placing a group of pennies to make a mile they hope to show that they are going to the distance to erase the stigma of mental illness. Why pennies you might ask? Abraham Lincoln suffered from major depression but managed to change our country and leave a positive lasting mark on history despite his personal battle. He did not let his disease define him.
The Mile of Pennies event will be held May 22nd 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Independence, KS at the Oval of Riverside Park.
To increase awareness of mental illness and help to reduce the stigma a Mile of Pennies Drive is a fundraiser/public education event sponsored by the Sunflower Club, Independence.
Help raise enough pennies to meet the goal of one mile of pennies? Donation containers are available at various businesses throughout the Independence area. Watch for the jars and help us meet our goal by contributing. You can also call the Sunflower Club at 620-331-1622. After the Mile of Pennies event the money raised will be used to promote educational information and programs to individuals participating in the Clubhouse programs.Below Clubhouse members work on taping pennies together to lay down for the Mile of Pennies Walk.
