Mental Health Awareness

Local police say it’s more common these days to be dealing with people with mental health issues. North Fond du Lac Police Chief Darren Pautsch says he wanted to take a few minutes during Mental Health Awareness Month to urge people to offer their support by listening to those who might have issues. He says suicide is a growing problem. He says nationally it is the third leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 15 and 24. He says there is a certain stigma for those suffering from mental health issues, but don’t be afraid to bring it up with someone you care about. He says there are also resources available such as the local chapter of NAMI or the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Fond du Lac Area YScreen program, which screens teens to see if they run the risk of suicide. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.