CARMEL – One in four New Yorkers suffer from a mental health disorder with symptoms affecting anyone regardless of age, gender, race, religion or socio-economic status.
Realizing this fact, the Putnam Legislature Tuesday evening declared May as Mental Health Awareness Month countywide.
Legislator Tommy Regan noted that four million children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from a “serious mental health diagnosis that causes significant functional impairments at home, in school and with peers with the total cost of mental health diagnoses exceeding that caused by all cancers.”
In presenting a proclamation to Sara Servadio, Putnam’s Commissioner of Mental Health, Social Services and the Youth Bureau, Regan added, “Having a mental health diagnosis is the number one risk factor for suicide.”
Servadio thanked the lawmakers for their concern reminding the public that services exist in Putnam for those in need of guidance and direction. “Each of our mental health providers encourage residents to challenge their own stigma about mental health while learning about local resources and reaching out for help if needed.”