Trinity County highlights behavioral health services as Board proclaims May Mental Health Awareness Month

The Trinity County Board of Supervisors on May 6 adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and received an update from Health and Human Services Agency Director Liz Hamilton about behavioral health services and outreach in the county.

Hamilton, the county's Health and Human Services Agency director, told the board that "mental health is not a luxury" and described outreach and treatment efforts for conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to serious mental illness. She said some commonly cited statistics include that about one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness in a given year and one in 20 experience serious mental illness.

The county presentation included local service numbers: Hamilton said the behavioral health program served 281 individuals with serious mental illness in fiscal year 2023-24 and reported it was serving about 310 this year. She said the county provides substance-use treatment to roughly 60 to 70 people during the current reporting period. The department also shared contact information and resource links that are posted on the county website.

Supervisors thanked the behavioral health team and emphasized concern for children, caregivers and isolated elders. Supervisor Carpenter Harris said she has observed increased anxiety and depression among teens since the COVID-19 pandemic and praised the department's work; other board members echoed appreciation.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month.