WHEREAS, the US. Surgeon General states that mental health is fundamental to health and indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contributes to community and society; and
WHEREAS,
the U.S. Surgeon General confirms that mental illness affects one in five
Americans every year, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or
economic status; and
WHEREAS,
the U.S. Surgeon General has found that a range of treatments exists for most
mental disorders and the efficacy of mental health treatments are well
documented; and
WHEREAS,
San Antonio has made a commitment to community-based systems of mental health
care for all residents; and
WHEREAS,
the guiding principles of community mental health care have always been
comprehensiveness, cost-efficiency, effective management and high-quality and
consumer-responsive services, and these principles are now being adopted by
private and public healthcare payors; and
WHEREAS,
the National Mental Health Association, the National Council for Community
Behavioral Healthcare and their national partners observe Mental Health Month
every May to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and illness;
THEREFORE, I, Howard Peak, do hereby proclaim May 2001 Mental Health Month in San Antonio, Texas. As the Mayor, I also call upon all San Antonio citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental illness and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental illnesses.
(Signed by Howard Peak, Mayor of San Antonio on May 3, 2001)