Modified: May 2, 2018 1:40pm
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz, Erie County Department of Mental Health Commissioner Michael R. Ranney and representatives from different organizations who serve on the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition today kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month by highlighting some of the unique community partnerships county government has with a variety of organizations located throughout Western New York.
The event was held at the new 15,000-square-foot headquarters of Crisis Services, a facility that doubled the square footage of their former offices to better accommodate their staff and allow for new programming and services to be offered as a way to enhance their critical crisis response services.
“Erie County has made tremendous strides in addressing mental health by working collaboratively with many different entities located throughout the county to offer programming and services for those who need it,” said Poloncarz. “While we are pleased with the progress we have made, we still have a long way to go to ensure that everyone in need of mental health care gets the help that they need to lead healthier and more balance lives.”
“There is some tremendous work being done in our community to assist people who have mental health conditions,” said Ranney. “The unique programming, specialized services and innovative care that is offered by numerous organizations located throughout Erie County are provided year-round, so we plan to highlight many of them throughout the month of May.”
“The clients we serve have mental health challenges that are addressed thanks to a collaborative mindset that our community openly embraces,” said Crisis Services Executive Director Jessica Pirro. “We share a common goal of changing how people in Erie County view mental illness. By educating the public we can conquer the challenging outcomes that our employees are faced with on a daily basis in identifying the services that each individual needs.”
For more information:
About the Erie County Department of Health:
http://www2.erie.gov/mentalhealth/
About Crisis Services: