The Morris County Board of County Commissioners issued proclamations for Older Americans Month 2022 and Mental Health Awareness Month, observed each May annually across the United States.
“It is important every year to recognize the people in our society who went before us. They built this nation … and we also recognize the wisdom they have amassed over time. We may still benefit from it every day,” said Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen during a work session meeting of the board.
He presented a framed proclamation to Christine Hellyer, Director of the Morris County Office on Aging, Disabilities, & Community Programming, and Carol Stoltz, who retired from that office on April 30 after 21 years as a care manager working with seniors and people with disabilities.
“In our annual observance of Mental Health Awareness, we also give special thanks to our dedicated mental healthcare providers,” said Director Selen.
“That includes everyone in our Office of Health and our Department of Human Services, especially our Division of Community and Behavioral Health Services.
It also includes the dedicated members of our Hope One mobile units and Morris County’s Navigating Hope program. It includes the Morris County Mental Health Addictions Services Advisory Board, which is represented here tonight, among others,” Selen added.
He presented the proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month to Morris County Mental Health Administrator Amy Archer and Cheryl Garodnick, Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board.
Older Americans Month
“We are fortunate that Morris County and the Commissioner support our Morris County seniors. So, thank you to the Commissioners for all the support, and thank you to the administration for what you do for us to help the seniors in our community,” said Hellyer.
“I can’t emphasize the importance of the programs and services available to our seniors from Morris County. When we go into the homes of our seniors, the most important thing, other than their health, that they want is to age in place. They want to remain in their home. … I’m just so happy we could do that on behalf of the county,” said Stoltz of her 21 years of working with seniors.
Mental Health Awareness Month
“Now more than ever, we are seeing a mental health crisis in our county and the state and national level. So thank you very much for the recognition and thank you for all the support you give to Morris County residents when it comes to behavioral health,” said Mental Health Administrator Amy Archer.
“Thank you for this recognition and for supporting the community with funding sources … regarding mental health services.
The current multi-level needs for mental health services include supporting resources addressing an opioid overdose epidemic, a suicide prevention initiative and a global pandemic.
There’s no time like the present for us to prioritize mental health services,” said Garodnick of the Advisory Board.