Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham signed a proclamation on Monday declaring May 17 as Peace of Mind: Mental Health Awareness Day. Miss Shelbyville, Jana Hahn was on hand for the event.
More than 350,000 Tennesseans have some sort of mental health-related diagnosis, and researchers have said that 49.5 percent of adolescents have some sort of diagnosable mental health disorder. Many of those adolescents either don’t have access to or have not sought care. Mental health issues can interfere with education, socialization, and functioning as a member of society. Mental health treatment has been shown to lower the suicide rate for those who receive it.
Hahn, in her role as Miss Shelbyville, supports efforts to make the public more aware of mental health issues and the importance of treatment.
The Miss Shelbyville pageant is an official preliminary to the Miss Tennessee pageant and is sanctioned by the Miss America Organization, which, with its scholarship foundation, empowers women to lead through education/scholarships, style, and success.
Photo provided by Bedford County Government
