May 2023: Mental Health Awareness Month

WHEREAS, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being; it affects how we think, feel, and act; it also affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices; and

WHEREAS, mental health allows us to maintain relationships, take care of ourselves and our families, take care of our physical bodies, and respond and adapt to daily life changes; and

WHEREAS, 1 in 5 adolescents have had a serious mental health disorder at some point in their life; and

WHEREAS, 50% of all mental health disorders begin by age 14, and 75% of all mental health disorders begin by age 24; and

WHEREAS, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States with a death every 11 minutes; and

WHEREAS, talking about mental health can reduce stigma and increase awareness of the devastating consequences of unaddressed mental illness; and

WHEREAS, evidence-based mental and behavioral health training teaches people how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges and provides skills to assist people who may be facing a mental health crisis; and

WHEREAS, since taking office, my administration has proposed historic investments in behavioral health services and state psychiatric facilities, recruiting and retaining hundreds of mental health workers and expanding access to mental health resources in schools and through community agencies; and,

WHEREAS, mental health training for teens is proven to reduce stigma and teach teens how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers;

WHEREAS, investing in mental health and safety is critical to building strong workplaces, a thriving workforce, and strong communities; and,

WHEREAS, to further support mental health and wellbeing for more Michiganders, the State of Michigan launched Michigan.gov/WorkplaceMentalHealth this year, a centralized mental health hub to share resources and strategies aimed at helping employees and employers across the state address mental health in the workplace; and,

WHEREAS, my administration has seen the statewide implementation of the national “988,” an easy to remember three-digit suicide and crisis hotline as part of the Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) and promoted Stay Well programming through Michigan.gov/StayWell to support the emotional distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Michigan.