Legislators issue proclamations about EMS, Mental Health Awareness

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County legislators issued proclamations for EMS Week and Mental Health Month.

County Legislator Skip Draper, right, presents a proclamation on Tuesday for EMS Week to Kristin McAdoo, chairwoman of the EMS Council in Orleans County. She is joined by Justin Niederhofer, left, the county’s emergency management director and Scott Buffin, the deputy emergency management coordinator.

“The members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the proclamation states. “The members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills.”

County Legislator Don Allport presents a proclamation about Mental Health Awareness Month in May to Melinda Rhim and other mental health workers in the county.

The proclamation states mental illness will impact one in four adults and one in five youth at some point during their life, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or economic status.

“Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of mental health disorders among children, adolescents and adults provide them with better opportunities to lead full and productive lives,” legislators stated. “Mental Health Awareness Month was developed to bring public awareness to the mental health challenges facing children, adolescents and adults, and to diminish the stigma associated with it.”