CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
WHEREAS, Wyoming joins in the National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week in recognizing that good mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being: and,
WHEREAS, Wyoming recognizes the importance of educating the public about mental illness and to reduce the stigma that motivates society to discriminate against people with mental illness; and,
WHEREAS, Wyoming recognizes that mental health challenges of our children have taken on a broad spectrum of interest from all walks of life, including state and federal departments of health, education, juvenile justice and child welfare; and,
WHEREAS, like adults, children and adolescents can have mental health problems that interfere with the way they think, feel, and act; and
WHEREAS, everyone has a role to play in helping children with mental health needs and their families achieve a better quality of life.
WHEREAS, these problems are real and painful and they can lead to failure at school, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, or suicide; and
WHEREAS, increased public awareness of mental health issues may lead to earlier recognition and treatment of possible mental health problems, leading to lower health care and correctional costs, increase productivity, improve the ability of children and adolescents to learn and contribute to healthier families and communities;
NOW THEREFORE, I, DAVE FREUDENTHAL, Governor of the State of Wyoming, do hereby proclaim May 4-10, 2008 as:
“CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK”
in the State of Wyoming and I commit this observance to the people of Wyoming.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Executive Seal of the Governor of Wyoming to be affixed this 7th day of May, 2008.