CLINTON — May is “Mental Health Awareness Month,” and the DeWitt County Mental Health Board is 50 years old.  Mental Health Board administrator Sharon Mills recently talked to county board members about the group’s activities.

The DeWitt County Mental Health Board was formed after the passage of the Community Mental Health Act.  The board is often referred to as the “708” board, denoting the legislation under which the program exists.

Mills introduced new board member candidate Sandra Beecher.  Beecher has worked as a case manager for Chestnut Health Systems and as a clinician with the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, working in mental health and substance abuse.

“I’ve been working in this field for some 25 years in one fashion or another,” Beecher said.  

Beecher also was involved in professional foster care.

Mills also talked about new board member candidate Fran Ferrill.

“She’s been in public health for over 35 years,” Mills said.  “Fran is an R.N. and works in a number of different organizations.”

Mills mentioned Katy Arnold, a teacher in the school district’s alternative education program.

“Katy and I will be, we hope after going through the training this summer, certified as youth mental health first aid trainers.”

They will conduct eight-hour sessions for those working with young people ages 12-18.

“The course is really meant for anyone who works with the public and young people or come into contact with individuals who are having mental health issues,” Mills said.

She said it helps provide an action plan for responding, “in an appropriate way to individuals that we run across.”