WHEREAS, good mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being; and

        WHEREAS, more than 17,000 children and adolescents in Idaho have a serious or persistent mental health disorder and one in five adults experiences a mental illness in his or her lifetime; and

        WHEREAS, one in five children in Idaho will experience a mental illness in his or her lifetime and more services to diagnose, treat or prevent these illnesses are needed; and

        WHEREAS, obtaining a full and accurate diagnosis of a child requires gathering information from diverse sources, including the family, school and others involved with that child; and

        WHEREAS, the traveling art display, “The World Through Our Eyes” seeks to reduce stigma statewide by displaying the strengths of our children; and

        WHEREAS, increased public awareness of mental health issues may lead to earlier recognition and treatment of possible mental health disorders, in turn leading to lower health care and correctional costs, increased productivity, improved ability of children and adolescents to learn and healthier families and communities;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2008, to be

M E N T A L   H E A L T H   A W A R E N E S S   DAY

in Idaho.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at Boise, Idaho, on this 1st day of May in the year of our Lord two-thousand and eight and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eighteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE