May is Mental Health Awareness Month

About 1 in 5 Americans will be affected by a mental health condition in his or her lifetime.

Every American is affected or impacted through their friends and family and can do something to help others, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

The City of Lakewood’s Department of Human Services, the Lakewood Area Collaborative and the Lakewood Senior Collaborative believes that mental health is as important as physical health. “We are dedicated to creating a compassionate community where we create space to hold conversations related to mental health and promote positive mental wellness for all residents,” said Katie Kurtz, clinical manager for the city’s department of human services.

During the month of May, the city’s department of human services has planned various activities and collaborations to help promote positive mental wellness for seniors in order to celebrate and honor Mental Health Awareness Month.

“The purpose of this initiative is to increase positive, overall wellness among the older adults we serve and increase visibility of our senior center services in the community,” Kurtz added.

The city is partnering throughout the month of May with Nature’s Bin, North Coast Health, Beck Center for the Arts, NAMI of Greater Cleveland, ESOP, Dr. Georganne Vartorella, Greater Cleveland Volunteers, and Hospice of the Western Reserve.

Take a look at the attached flyer, highlighting a listing of programs we are hosting in the month of May. Note: these activities are not replacing any regular scheduled programs and activities.