DARLINGTON — May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Lafayette County Mental Health Matters Committee is raising awareness this week about it. Members of Darlington Police Department put up a banner and 16 green-colored ribbons on the courthouse lawn in memory of the 16 Lafayette County residents who have died by suicide in the past five years. Each ribbon represents a life that mattered. 

Brain health is important. The brain is a part of the body just like any other part. Sometimes, it gets sick, just like any other part of the body. It’s perfectly normal. Everyone needs to do their part to accept that reality, respect it, and treat it. Some will be lucky and never have to deal with anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar, eating disorders, schizophrenia, or any one of the countless other brain ailments some Americans suffer from. Chances are, though, a loved one will. 

To learn more about mental health and suicide awareness in southwest Wisconsin, visit: https://behavioralhealthpartnership.org/