OLYMPIA -- The month of May is Mental Health Month, and May 7 is Children's Mental Health Awareness Day – an occasion for recognizing that children can have mental illnesses, just like adults. And like adults, they can recover from them, too.

"I think most of us today understand that people with mental illness can come in all ages and all shapes and sizes," said Doug Porter, assistant secretary of the Health and Recovery Services Administration in DSHS.

"But the most important thing today is to understand that mental illness is treatable -- just like physical illnesses – and people with mental illnesses of all ages can recover and move back into productive lives in our communities."

Gov. Gregoire this week proclaimed May as Mental Health Month in Washington state with May 7 designated as a national day for special awareness of children and mental health.

"Failure to treat mental illness has led to a large number of mentally ill being jailed or imprisoned, or living on the streets and has caused terrible emotional and financial strain on their families," the proclamation says.

It adds: "Research and development of new medications, treatment programs and support services for those with a mental illness have shown hope and promise, allowing people to reclaim their full and productive lives."

Stephanie Kay Lane, manager of the Office of Consumer Partnerships in the Mental Health Division of HRSA and DSHS, said she and other staff will distribute information and fact sheets about mental illness on the Capitol Campus the first week of May. The month is about both adults and children.

In the United States, it was once a common misunderstanding to think that depression was a "normal" part of aging, said Kara Panek, mental health administrator. In fact, she said, depression is not inherent to getting older. It is an illness and it's treatable.

"The important message of May is that people with mental illness do recover and do regain their normal lives," Lane said.

EDITORS:   For a copy of fact sheets on mental health or a copy of Gov. Gregoire's proclamation,  please e-mail  stevejh2@dshs.wa.gov  or call 360-725-1915 (pager: 360-971-4067)

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