At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on May 2, 2023, Mayor Weiss presented a proclamation declaring May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness and Trauma-Informed Care Month in Palm Beach County.
Mental health is essential to overall health and well-being, and everyone experiences times of stress and struggles in their lives. Approximately 60% of adults and 50% of youth do not receive the treatment necessary for their mental health needs due to limited or no knowledge of the need, barriers to care, fear or shame. The importance of attending to mental health has become even more pronounced in the last few years due to COVID-19, political and social unrest and the resulting economic crisis. Isolation, sickness, grief, job loss, food instability and loss of routines has increased the need for mental health services.