Summary

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn and Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles were on Wednesday joined by their Council colleagues in recognizing September as National Recovery Month in King County.

Story

From left to right: Councilmember Joe McDermott, Councilmember Reagan Dunn, Care Coordination and Recovery Section Manager Dan Floyd with the Department of Community and Human Services, Councilmember Claudia Balducci, Behavioral Health Recovery Specialist Kathleen Murphy, also with DCHS, Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Dave Upthegrove, Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Pete von Reichbauer, Kathy Lambert, and Larry Gossett.

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn and Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles were on Wednesday joined by their Council colleagues in recognizing September as National Recovery Month in King County.

Recovery Month celebrates the successes of those recovering from addiction and mental health disorders while honoring the service providers who make recovery possible.

“National Recovery Month is a time to spread the message that it is always possible to reclaim your life from addiction and mental illness,” Dunn said. “It is important that anyone who seeks recovery knows that there are services available to help them succeed.”

The observance also aims to reduce stigma around addiction and mental health that may discourage people from seeking help.

“During National Recovery Month it is important for us to recognize and thank all those in the behavioral health profession whose work is essential in supporting people in their recovery from addiction and mental and behavioral health issues,” Kohl-Welles said. “It is critical that we continue to support and fund behavioral health programs across the county to ensure that when someone is ready for help there is a clear pathway for them to get the help they need and to reclaim their lives.”

National Recovery Month, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is an annual national observance to educate Americans about the substance abuse treatment and mental health services that can help those struggling with addiction live a healthy and rewarding life.

Recovery Month began in 1989 as Treatment Works! Month, which honored the work of substance use treatment professionals in the field. It then expanded into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in 1998, when it started celebrating the accomplishment of individuals in recovery. The observance evolved once again in 2011 to become National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) and include mental illness.