One in four adults will experience a mental health problem in any given year, and more than one in 17 live with a serious, chronic mental illness. The Alabama Department of Mental Health is joining efforts nationwide to celebrate Mental Illness Awareness Week, sponsored annually by The National Alliance on Mental Illness. The observance, which has been in existence for more than 20 years, seeks to increase awareness about mental illnesses and reduce stigma. This year’s MIAW is being observed nationwide October 7-13.

The Alabama Department of Mental Health serves more than 100,000 Alabamians with mental illnesses each year. More than 97 percent of those individuals are experiencing recovery and living in the community. ADMH and other groups also work to decrease stigma surrounding mental illnesses through various public education efforts. This year, several NAMI Alabama affiliates are hosting a variety of events during MIAW.

14 Guys, 5 Days and 500 Miles!!!

On Friday, September 28, 2012 the Wings Ride team will depart on a 500 mile cycling charity event from The West Clinic, 100 N. Humphreys Blvd., Memphis, TN 38120 to Rosemary Beach, Florida (town center) promoting cancer awareness, encouraging a healthy lifestyle and raising funds for Wings Cancer Foundation’s Health and Wellness Programs.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutrition education and supplemental foods, and serves women and children whose incomes are up to 185 percent of poverty. Special emphasis is placed on targeting infants and high-risk pregnant women.

The WIC Program regulations require public comment from interested individuals in the writing of the 2013 State Plan of Program Operations for the WIC Program.

The plan may be reviewed online at http://www.adph.org/wic/index.asp?id=2569.The state plan may also be viewed at the State WIC Office at the address listed below.

Written comments may be e-mailed via the www.adph.orgwebsite or mailed to the following address by Oct. 9, 2012:

Alabama Department of Public Health
WIC Program, Attention Carolyn Battle
The RSA Tower, Suite 1300
201 Monroe St.
P.O.