CHIEF’S CORNER: MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 18, 2017 (San Diego) -- Did you know that one in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health condition? Did you know one in 25 adults in the country lives with a serious mental illness?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it is import we raise our awareness to this growing concern. We all experience difficult times and stress in our lives, and no one should feel ashamed in seeking help to manage those times.

First responders have seen an increase in mental health related incidents in which we’ve responded on. Many times first responders become injured and some have even been killed.

For more information on Mental Health Awareness Month, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the country’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.