COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Commission at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 24, proclaimed Oct. 7-13 as Mental Illness Awareness Week in the county.

The proclamation read that its intent was to “shine a light on mental illness and fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care.”

The Commission is enhancing the delivery of Behavioral Health Services in Fiscal Year 2019 forward, according to the proclamation, which added that the enhancements will cover both adolescent and adult clients.

As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, all residents, businesses, schools and community organizations are encouraged to take the #StigmaFree pledge at NAMI.org/stigmafree.

According to the proclamation:

• One in five adults experience a mental health problem in any given year.
• About one-half of chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14 and three-quarters by the age of 24.
• Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States and second-leading cause among young adults, and 90 percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness.
• Long delays often occur between the time symptoms first appear and when individuals get help, early identification and treatment can make a difference in successful management of mental illness and recovery, it is important to maintain mental health and learn the symptoms of mental illness in order to get help when it is needed, and every resident and community can make a difference in helping end the silence and stigma that for too long has surrounded mental illness and discouraged people from getting help.

In other business, the Commission:

• Approved the purchase of right-of-way from PKB Management Inc. for the Shelby County 280 (Old Hwy. 280) and Shelby County 11 intersection project.
• Awarded bids for General and State Certified Concrete to the lowest responsive bidders for each item, including Kirkpatrick Concrete, Bama Concrete and Shelby Concrete.
• Awarded a bid for Vehicle Graphics and Decals for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to the lowest responsive bidder, Southern Nameplate and Graphics.
• Entered into an executive session to discuss pending legal matters.