Mayor Proclaims May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Buffalo

The month of May has been proclaimed as Mental Health Awareness Month in Buffalo by Mayor Shane Schrader, asking residents to educate themselves and others about mental health conditions, treatment options and available resources.

He also encouraged people to challenge the stigma associated with mental health issues by speaking respectively and inclusively about it, and to seek help or encourage others if struggling with mental health, and to support organizations that help those with mental health issues.

Bill Hawley, Johnson County Community Prevention Manager/Suicide Prevention Specialist, said Mental Health Awareness is the flip-side of what he speaks about a lot, which is suicide prevention.

He introduced Lorraine Steppe, who spoke about the Survivors of Suicide Support Group.

The group meets the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Pines Counseling in Buffalo.