Vigil marks start of Mental Health Awareness Week
Posted on Monday, October 8, 2007
Locals gathered for a candlelight vigil outside the Fayetteville Town Center on Sunday night to kick off National Mental Health Awareness Week.
About 100 people showed up to hear what they could do to spread mental health awareness in Northwest Arkansas.
John King, a representative of the Mental Health Association of Northwest Arkansas, said the idea behind the week rests in its title.
Its really to raise community awareness of stillexisting needs in Northwest Arkansas, he said. Weve got more resources in Northwest Arkansas but still not enough.
The group listened to area mental health advocates talk about the needs in Northwest Arkansas for mental health, as candles were lit to commemorate the ideas.
King said a big need for mental health patients in Northwest Arkansas is a nonprofit inpatient care center. He said he hopes that spreading awareness in the community might address that need better.
Some of the people that came (to the vigil ) will go home and ask what they can do, he said.
David L. Williams, CEO of Ozark Guidance Center, said the awareness week also helps get the word out to people that treatment works on those who have mental illness.
And its within reach in Northwest Arkansas, he said.
Williams recommended that people visit the Ozark Guidance Center Web site at www. ozarkguidance. org and take the free mental health assessment tests that it offers.
Tim Hudson, also with Ozark Guidance Center, said the biggest thing people can remember about Mental Health Awareness Week is that they can help those who have mental health problems.
Anytime theres an inkling of concern (about someone ), dont let it go unchecked. Ask if they need help, Hudson said. People need to be aware, and they need to be vocal.
Some data shared on Sunday about mental health in the U. S. include:
One in four adults, about 57. 7 million, experience a mental health disorder in any given year
The national economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than $ 100 billion each year
Four million children and adolescents struggle with a serious mental disorder
Half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders begin by age 14
In any given year, only 20 percent of children with mental illnesses are identified and receive mental health services
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