Kirksville Community Group Plans Event To Kick Off Mental Health Month

A community group made up of area health professionals and staff from the Adair County YMCA, A.T. Still University, the city of Kirksville, Kirksville R-III, Mark Twain Behavioral Health, Moberly Area Community College, Northeast Regional Medical Center and Truman State University is collaborating on a campaign entitled “Be the Light * We All Make the Difference” in order to raise awareness that May is Mental Health Month.

The group is planning an event at 8:30 a.m. May 1 on the south lawn of the courthouse in downtown Kirksville. Rain site will be the Adair County Annex building. The public is encouraged to attend to promote awareness within the community that everyone must work together on issues related to mental health and all people can make a difference.

A proclamation will be presented on behalf of the Adair County Commission and speakers will include Rep. Nate Walker, Angela Caraway, chief operating officer at Mark Twain Behavioral Health, and Jim Hughes, chief of police for the city of Kirksville.

Posters with the campaign theme, “Be the Light * We All Make the Difference,” will be available at the event, and area businesses and community members are encouraged to show their community support by putting up a poster. For those who are not able to attend, but would like a poster, email pr@truman.edu.

Other events taking place that day include a table in the Student Union Building with informational resources about mental health. The table will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those interested in informational posters and additional resources.

Supporters and attendees are encouraged to use the hashtags #YouMatter, for national Mental Health Month, and #BeTheLightKV, to raise awareness of mental health issues in the Kirksville community.

Members of the group plan to continue to meet in order to coordinate efforts in promoting the theme of mental health awareness throughout the summer and fall. 

Questions may be directed to Angela Caraway, chief operating officer at Mark Twain Behavioral Health, at acaraway@mtbh.org or 660.665.4612.