City of Philadelphia - File #: 150520

• File #: 150520
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 5/21/2015
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 5/21/2015
• Title: Recognizing May 2015 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honoring the leadership, commitment, and advocacy of Joan Erney and Edie Mannion in service to individuals living with behavioral health conditions and their families.
• Sponsors: Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Blackwell, Council President Clarke, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Neilson, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember O'Neill

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
5/21/2015	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
5/21/2015	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Recognizing May 2015 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honoring the leadership, commitment, and advocacy of Joan Erney and Edie Mannion in service to individuals living with behavioral health conditions and their families.

Body
WHEREAS, One in four people will experience a diagnosable mental health condition within any given year according to the National Institute of Mental Health and six percent will experience severe mental illness; and

WHEREAS, The stigma and discrimination surrounding behavioral health conditions are still barriers to seeking treatment worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Mental health recovery and community inclusion is the driving force behind systems change at the local, state and national levels. Recovery is the belief that individuals with behavioral health conditions can and do recover; they can live meaningful lives in the community and that community inclusion is a fundamental civil right; and

WHEREAS, Recovery is facilitated by relationships and environments that promote hope, empowerment, choices, and opportunities that support people in reaching their full potential as individuals and community members; and

WHEREAS, The Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (MHASP) has been a leader regionally, statewide and nationally in transforming mental health services to become more responsive to the priorities of individuals with mental health challenges and their family members; and

WHEREAS, Joan Erney, a graduate of Penn State University, who received her J.D. from the Widener School of Law, has committed over 25 years to advancing services and supports, and improving policies impacting individuals with behavioral health challenges; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Erney is the current CEO of Community Behavioral Health in Philadelphia and has held top posts within the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (now Departmen...