Candlelight Celebration For Mental Illness Awareness
Every year, a candlelight celebration is held to raise awareness for mental health in downtown Phoenix. The Mental Health Awareness Coalition and Arizona State University Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy hosted the 22nd annual celebration this year with the theme of embracing the journey that mental health has put many people on. While mental health is a difficult thing to deal with and can cause serious pain, it is important to celebrate those who have conquered or who have begun to get in control of their mental health and to honor the journey they have been on because of it.
Aside from bringing awareness to and celebrating mental health, this event provides Valley residents with a number of resources for those who need or know someone who needs help with mental illness. At the event, attendees have the opportunity to speak to the representatives of many different organizations that provide help and resources to valley residents struggling with mental illness. This event is so helpful because it shows people what types of help are out there and it allows them to gain information all in one place.
Arizona’s Lack Of Mental Health Care
Although this event and others like it are designed to provide resources to those in need of mental health guidance, access to mental health care is still lacking. According to Mental Health America, Arizona ranks 40th in the country’s access to mental health care. One of the biggest problems is de-stigmatizing mental health and mental health education.
Events like the one held by The Mental Health Awareness Coalition and Arizona State University Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy are a great step in the right direction because they spread awareness throughout communities. Not many people feel comfortable talking about mental health, but having events that celebrate it encourages them to do so. The more people that are educated about mental health the more progress that can be made.
Photo by Andreas Lischka
