BROOKVILLE — Tuesday morning, the Jefferson County commissioners proclaimed the month of May as Mental Health and Stigma Awareness Month throughout the area.
Speaking for Kick the Stigma was Mary Brown, founding member and treasurer, who talked about the importance of breaking the stigma of mental health.
“We would like to get the youth involved and are working with the school districts now,” she said, adding that their plan is to go far beyond just the month of May.
“We want to make mental health a year-round thing, and there is always stigma to do with it. We just need everybody’s help to grow and keep on building towards the future of kicking stigma,” said Shane Ellis, a board member of Kick the Stigma.
At their event on Saturday, May 30, they will be having kickball and pickleball tournaments. They are also having an art contest for kids in grades K-12. The winning design will be featured on a t-shirt. Last year’s winner drew a picture of the late actor Robin Williams, and that drawing will be on this year’s t-shirts. John Schlimm made 30,000 988 coins — 988 being a reference to the suicide hotline — while working with the suicide prevention team, the school district, and a manufacturer.