Leaders in Choctaw County along with The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) approved May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month.
This recognition began 67 years ago by Mental Health America, a nonprofit dedicated to the needs of those living with mental illness, to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of good mental health for everyone.
This year’s theme, a Life with a Mental Illness, seeks to share what life is like for those living with a mental illness and the struggles faced by everyday people, but coupled with an illness that is often misunderstood rarely talked about openly.
“Mental illnesses are much more common than many people realize,” said Diana Mikula, Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health. “About one in five adults experiences mental health issues, and about one in 10 young people experience major mental health issues as well. Mental health issues affect people of all ages, races and backgrounds.”
