Kingston, NY – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein announces that May is Mental Health Awareness Month in Ulster County. To help highlight this recognition Ulster County will be participating with the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ (NAMI) Ribbon Campaign and displaying awareness ribbons on the trees in front of the Ulster County Office Building. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
Michael P. Hein, Ulster County Executive
“I am focused on ensuring that those who suffer from mental health issues have access to the best possible services and that we are helping to create a culture of understanding and support which encourages those who need assistance to seek it,” said County Executive Mike Hein. “Although though much work still lies ahead to destigmatize mental illness, I am proud of the hard work that Dr. Carol Smith, her great team at the Ulster County Department of Health and Mental Health and their partners in mental health all across our great county are doing to help achieve this goal.”
Dr. Carol M. Smith, Commissioner of Ulster County Health and Mental Health
“Mental Health Awareness Month recognizes fact that supporting good mental health is every bit as important and essential to a person's well-being as is his or her physical health. In fact, it is inseparable. This is exactly why County Executive Mike Hein restructured county government to combine the Departments of Health and Mental Health into a single entity; one of the few combined departments in New York State,” said Dr. Carol Smith, Ulster County Commissioner of Health and Mental Health. “Many lives have been touched by various forms of mental illness and many dedicated professionals work hard to treat it and many more to reduce the stigma associated with it. Advancing positive mental health, physical health and community health is a holistic approach that is both effective and smart.”
Branden Gibson, Program Director National Alliance on Mental Illness
“Educating and encouraging the public to understand mental illness is the first step in helping to destigmatize a reality that impacts the lives of 1 out of every 4 Americans and 1 out of every 5 children,” said Branden Gibson, Program Director for the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “I would like to thank County Executive Mike Hein for his commitment to helping raise public awareness about mental health by proclaiming May 2018 ‘Mental Health Awareness Month’ in Ulster County.”
NAMI’s Mental Health Awareness Ribbon Campaign, is an anti-stigma initiative designed to bring the topic of mental illness in our communities to the forefront and to facilitate open and honest dialogue about the subject. Ulster County has many resources available for those seeking mental health assistance:
Ulster County Mental Health Resources:
• Family of Woodstock, Inc. 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 845-338-2370
• UC Mobile Mental Health Team:1-844-277-4820 (available 1:00 to 11:00 p.m./ 7 Days)
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
• Veteran's Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (press 1 when connected)
• Veteran’s Crisis Text Messages: send text to 838255
• The Trevor Lifeline (for LGBTQ youth): 1-866-488-7386
Download Free Ulster County SPEAK Suicide Prevention App:
Available for iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ulster-county-speak/id736773884?mt=8
Available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.themacworks.ulstercountyspeak
Pictured above (from left): Andrea Raphael-Paskey, member of the NAMI Mid-Hudson Board of Directors; Branden Gibson, NAMI Mid-Hudson Director; Patricia A. Shaw, member of the NAMI Mid-Hudson Board of Directors; Ulster County Executive Michael P. Hein; Dr. Carol Smith, Ulster County Commissioner of Health and Mental Health; and Al Coley, President NAMI Mid-Hudson.
