Muskegon County board proclaims May 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month; recognizes Ehlers-Danlos awareness

The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved two proclamations: one recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and another recognizing Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders awareness month.

The mental health proclamation, which the board approved by voice vote, states in its recitals that "nearly 1 in 5 Muskegon County adults have a diagnosed mental health condition in any given year" and that stigma remains a leading barrier to accessing care. A commissioner moved to approve the proclamation and it passed by voice vote; the transcript records the motion and a call for ayes and noes with the chair declaring the motion passed.

The Ehlers-Danlos proclamation was introduced to the board by Gabrielle Jones, described in the meeting as a senior at North Muskegon High School and a member of the National Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Teen Action Committee. Jones told the Human Services Committee and the full board about symptoms and the limited access to clinicians knowledgeable about hypermobility disorders in the state and county. The board voted to approve the proclamation after a committee recommendation.

Both proclamations are symbolic recognitions and do not create new county programs or appropriate funds. The board recorded the motions and approved both items during the meeting; no roll-call vote totals were provided in the transcript for these items.