May proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month

BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Fannin County Commissioners declared May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month.

Members of Fannin County Connection accepted the proclamation. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans are diagnosed with a mental health condition per year. 46 percent of Americans will be diagnosable with a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime and half of those will be before the age of 14.

At this time, 44 million Americans are experiencing mental illness with 42.5 million suffering from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is one of the more prominent disorders in America.

24.6 million Americans don’t receive treatment for their mental disorders whether it’s anxiety, substance abuse, depression, bipolar, post-traumatic stress, schizophrenia, or suicidal thoughts.

Mental Health Awareness Month began in 1949 by Mental Health America (MHA). Each year MHA presents a theme for the month. This year it continues on the Tools2Thrive theme from 2020 and  “providing practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase their resiliency regardless of their personal situation.”

The tools provided pertain to:

• Adapting after trauma and stress
• Dealing with anger and frustration
• Getting out of thinking traps
• Processing big changes
• Taking time for yourself
• Radical acceptance

MHA’s website offers several mental health checks and tests for anyone wanting to gain a better understanding of themselves.

More county business

Zack Ratcliff was reappointed to the Water Authority Board by Post One Johnny Scearce.

The purchase of a used trackhoe for the public works department was approved for $57,700. The used model is a K2057 with 104 hours on it. SPLOST money will be used for the purchase.

Four bids for the new 911 radio console system were received and opened. The issue was tabled for two weeks to give everyone time to review the bids.