Mental Health Awareness Week proclaimed in Barrie

Mayor Jeff Lehman has proclaimed May 1 to 7 as Mental Health Awareness Week in the City of Barrie.

Advanced Care Paramedic and author of Save-My-Life School Natalie Harris was in the public gallery, beaming at the development.

Harris chronicled her mental health journey in her book and is a leading advocate on behalf of others.

"It's tremendous," she said of the proclamation in an interview prior to Monday night's council meeting.

"What more could you ask for? Living in a city that is already so wonderful and where I personally started my journey t recovery from mental illness at RVH, to have it proclaimed as Mental Health Week by the Mayor is going to be a really amazing moment for me."

The city's proclamation coincides with Mental Health Week in Canada.

Here is the full text read out by Mayor Lehman.

"Whereas mental illnesses are still feared and misunderstood by many people but the fear will disappear as more people learn about them.  And as people continue to share their stories of recovery.  Whereas the CMHA of Simcoe County is a multi-service agency serving children, youth and families through a wide range of mental health initiatives.  And whereas CMHA introduced Mental Health Week in 1951 and it is now a popular week for a variety of mental health and addiction awareness campaigns, activities and events across the country. Whereas Wings of Change Peer Support founded Feb. 1, 2016 in Barrie, Ontario, a partnership with CMHA and chapters across Canada provides a stigma-free environment for all first responders, health care professionals, dispatchers, military members, correction workers, funeral support workers and animal service workers with regards to occupational trauma and stress. And whereas CMHA focusses on making a difference in the lives of those they serve, helping to create a better future for individuals and the communities they live in. Therefore I Jeff Lehman, Mayor of the City of Barrie, hereby proclaim the week of May 1 to 7 as Mental Health Awareness Week in the City of Barrie."