Orange County Proclaims September as Recovery Month

From the Archdiocese of New York:

The Orange County Legislature and Orange County Executive joined together today to proclaim September as Recovery Month in Orange County. Legislative Chairman Stephen Brescia and Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus presented a proclamation to representatives from Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan, Cornerstone Family Healthcare, HONOR, and RECAP at the Orange County Legislature’s September meeting.

Recovery month is a national observance sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to raise awareness of mental and/or substance use disorders. It celebrates individuals in long-term recovery, and acknowledges the work of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.

According to SAMHSA, among people aged 12 and older, 21.5 million people (8.1%) in the United States were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year. An estimated 100,000 people in Orange County are affected by issues of mental health and substance use, according to the Orange County Department of Mental Health.

The proclamation recognizes that behavioral health is an essential part of health and one’s overall wellness, and prevention of mental and/or substance use disorders works, treatment is effective, and people do recover. Preventing and overcoming mental and/or substance use disorders is essential to achieving healthy lifestyles, both physically and emotionally.

During Recovery Month, and every month, Orange County residents are reminded to encourage relatives and friends of people with mental and/or substance use disorders to implement preventive measures, recognize the signs of a problem, and guide those in need to appropriate treatment and recovery support services.

A variety of treatment and prevention support services are available in Orange County.

Information about mental health and/or substance use services is available from the following treatment providers:

• Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan www.CatholicCharitiesOC.org
• Cornerstone Family Healthcare www.cornerstonefamilyhealthcare.org
• HONOR www.honorhelpingothers.org
• RECAP www.recap.org

Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of New York

Photo caption: Darcie Miller, Commissioner of Mental Health and Social Services, Chris Molinelli, Executive Director of HONOR, Charlie Quinn, President & CEO of RECAP, Dr. Dean Scher, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan, County Executive Steven Neuhaus, Chairman of the Orange County Legislature Stephen Brescia, Legislator Matt Turnbull, and Linda Muller, President & CEO of Cornerstone Family Healthcare joined together in proclaiming September as Recovery Month in Orange County.