Mayor Marcia Leclerc Recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month
East Hartford, CT - Throughout the month of May, Americans nationwide participate in raising awareness around the subject of mental health to help break the stigma as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. This annual tradition offers an opportunity to increase public understanding of the importance of this matter and to promote the identification and treatment of mental illness. Throughout this past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the mental health and well-being of many people, both in East Hartford and across the country. While we have made much progress as a nation in addressing mental health and illness, there is still a lot of work to be done.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 5 adults over 18 and 1 in 6 youth aged 6 to 17 years old live with mental illness. Even if we are not personally affected by these conditions, there is a chance that our friends or family members might be struggling. Please know, recovery is possible for many people, but it is important that they receive love, support, and understanding from their family and friends. Mental Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity for reflection and collective action, which begins with our own community here in East Hartford. We must all learn to be sensitive to the emotions of people and always be a lending ear to someone who is struggling. With that being said, I encourage you to take a moment and check in on your loved ones, your friends and neighbors, and offer your support. Give them a hug, tell them you love them, and let them know that they can always speak to you about anything that may be troubling them in their life.
As the month of May winds down and the weather grows warmer, it is important to remember that spending time outdoors can benefit people’s mental health. I encourage everyone to participate in activities that will support their well-being, such as taking a hike along the Hockanum River Trail, enjoying a bike ride along the East Hartford Bike Path, or spending time at any of our town’s beautiful parks. East Hartford prides itself on being a welcoming and accepting community to all people, and every individual can work to help end the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness.
There are a number of local and national resources available. Among those resources are InterCommunity Health Care that can be reached at 860-569-5900 and is located at 281 Main Street in East Hartford. Additionally, the National Alliance on Mental Illness can be reached 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org. 211 helpline centers have a variety of resources as well.