Community Partners--Mental Health Awareness for All

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

In early 2009, the McHenry County Mental Health Board hosted human service professionals from throughout the County in a community conversation centered on raising awareness of mental health issues. Drawing from the concepts shared at these meetings, MHB staff nurtured a countywide collaboration of professionals, adults in recovery from mental illness, and interested community members in forming the Community Partners – mental Health Awareness for All. This group works to raise awareness of mental health issues. It has pooled resources to coordinate a variety of free mental health and suicide prevention programs through multiple events and venues. Some of the most popular offerings include an annual theater arts project and a community art exhibit featuring the work of individuals who have received services for mental health issues, movie presentations, educational panels, and lunch and learns. The work of Community Partners continues to expand. Libraries participate in May is Mental Health Month by creating specialized displays. Last year, the Partners collaborated to fund and provide editorial content for a special mental health insert in the Northwest Herald newspaper. This 12-page insert reached 36,000 households at th beginning of May 2010. The Partners are now firming plans for 2011 events.