Community Meetings to Discuss the Tonawanda Coke Soil Study
Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign Launches in Erie County
Erie County Mental Health
Anti-Stigma Campaign
Launched May 30th
On May 30th, the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition launched "Join the Conversation", a public awareness campaign to address the stigma surrounding mental illness. The campaign is designed to start a community conversation to educate the public on the real facts surrounding mental illness and give those who suffer a voice in an effort to reduce or eliminate stigma in Erie County.
According to Michael Ranney, CRC-R, LMHC, Erie County Commissioner of Mental Health and coalition member, "Approximately 1 in 5 Western New Yorkers are living with a mental health condition. Yet many of these people suffer in silence because of the discrimination that goes along with it. Through this effort, we hope that people dealing with mental health challenges will know that they are not alone, help is available and recovery is possible."
The cornerstone of the campaign is the website www.letstalkstigma.org and its social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter where individuals can find facts, information, other people's stories and experiences, available resources, and, of course, a place to join the conversation.
Free Community-Wellness Fairs and Noontime Walks!
A Grand Idea in a Land Like Oz
From an article written by Carl Francis Penders:
“Is Buffalo a healthy community? asked Philip L. Haberstro (lead image – right), The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo’s executive director. Weighing in too regarding the populace’s health was Larry Brooks, author of Buffalo Niagara: Diagnosis and Prescription for Change. Both Haberstro and Brooks referred to the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute’s County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. The 2016 Population Health Institute rated Niagara 58 and Erie County at 50 respectively out of 62 New York State counties. Haberstro indicated that measure is driven by both personal choice and the social,, environmental and economic HEALTH of our communities'
A " healthy community" is measured by civic, economic, biological, and environmental factors said Haberstro. He asked listeners to consider the region’s social capital, a term from "Bowling Alone" by Robert Putnam which examines the trust people have in one another, and in agencies serving them. Equally important is reciprocity, a social capital yardstick measuring how well people work together. Note BUUFALO DAY 2017 at Chautaqua is Tues.July11.
To read the full article please visit BuffaloRising.com
