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Providing Help For People Struggling With Mental Health Issues

Legislator Wolfe & NAMI-Rockland: ‘No One Has To Go It Alone’

New City, NY (May 24, 2024) – Rockland County Legislature Majority Leader Alden H. Wolfe joined representatives of NAMI-Rockland to encourage anyone struggling with mental health issues to reach out because no one has to go it alone and help is available.

“I’m honored to recognize the important work carried out by NAMI-Rockland and to acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Month so that together as a community we can call attention to mental health challenges while also making people aware that help is available,” Legislator Wolfe said.

Beth Bate-DuBoff, the Executive Director of NAMI-Rockland, said mental health issues can and do impact people from all walks of life, including all socio-economic levels and all age groups. In fact, one in four Americans experience an episode of mental illness each year, she said.

“Individuals both diagnosed and undiagnosed with mental illness are all around us,” Director Bate-DuBoff said.

Four million children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from severe mental disorders that cause significant functional impairment at home, school and with peers, while mental health disorders also account for more leaves of absence from work than any other cause, including cancer, she said.

“That means that somebody that you know is struggling right now,” Director Bate-DuBoff said.

Every year, thousands of Rockland individuals and families facing mental health challenges are given the direction and support they need thanks to NAMI-Rockland. This is due in good part to the fact that many NAMI-Rockland members have shared similar experiences and know first-hand the struggles being faced.

NAMI-Rockland provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness and other mental health disorders can build better lives. The organization also promotes research, fosters understanding, and combats discrimination and stigma through outreach to the community.

NAMI’s annual Mental Health Awareness Ribbon Campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health in children and teens. NAMI asks all of us to “Take the Moment” to learn the signs and keep an eye out for any social or behavioral changes in your children.

Well before the pandemic and in the days since, NAMI has been there for children. Many of the first people to get involved with NAMI years ago did so because there was a lack of guidance or other help for their own children. An estimated one in three children were said to be suffering a mental health condition due to the many impacts of the pandemic, and for many, the impacts continue.

NAMI also reminds us of the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome in the U.S., with at least 3.5 percent of the overall population, more than 7 million people in the adult U.S. population, affected. While PTSS can happen to anyone and at any age, the average age of onset is when a person is in their early 20s.

NAMI-Rockland programs are offered at no-cost and in Spanish. The organization will soon launch an educational program in local schools to explain what mental illness is and the help that is available while also delivering the very important message that anyone who is struggling is not alone.

Legislator Wolfe said the statistics highlight some serious challenges.

“Among the most difficult challenges are the stigma and discrimination many fear will impact them if they step forward to seek help,” he said. “But reaching out for help can make such a tremendous difference in a person’s life. I encourage anyone facing mental health challenges – be it yourself, a family member,  friend, co-worker, or neighbor – to reach out to NAMI for assistance.”

NAMI-Rockland will hold a walk-a-thon on Sept. 8 at Rockland Lake State Park. The organization is seeking volunteers to assist with the event, as well as participants.

For help or information about mental health issues, including available services, please visit https://namirockland.org/ or call NAMI-Rockland at (845) 359-8787.

As part of the effort to raise awareness, Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. also issued a Proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Rockland County.

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