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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $70,000.00 FROM THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD TO THE COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF SERVICES RELATED TO THE NO SHAME, LET�S TALK! CAMPAIGN

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WHEREAS, in a 2025 fact sheet, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Florida (�NAMI�) reports that: (1) 3,563,000 adults in Florida have a mental health condition; (2) 987,000 Florida adults have a serious mental illness; (3) 836,000 Florida adults experience serious thoughts of taking their own lives each year; and (4) 3,446 lives were lost to self-harm in 2022; and
WHEREAS, despite these alarming statistics, there is still a considerable and unwarranted stigma associated with mental health diagnoses and treatment; and
WHEREAS, individuals living with mental health disorders�diagnosed or undiagnosed�are our friends, family, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health disorders account for more disability than any other illness, including cancer and heart disease; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the prevalence of mental health disorders, treatment for such conditions is often viewed much differently and less openly than treatment for physical ailments; and
WHEREAS, stigma surrounding mental health disorders often prevents individuals from seeking support, as services can be difficult to locate and navigate, and accessing available resources can feel overwhelming; and
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County Behavioral Health Advisory Board (�Behavioral Health Advisory Board�) is working to change the conversation surrounding the receipt and provision of behavioral health care in Miami-Dade County and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the BHAB is dedicated to supporting individuals affected by mental health disorders and is committed to normalizing dialogue about behavioral health care and treatment, including eliminating the stigma associated with mental health conditions and treatment of same; and
WHEREAS, to further this mission, the BHAB is focused on expanding and encouraging open dialogue about mental health throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, to that end, at its March 25, 2026 meeting, the BHAB unanimously adopted a motion to establish the No Shame, Let�s Talk! Campaign; and
WHEREAS, the campaign aims to increase awareness, reduce and eliminate stigma, and simplify access to mental health services; and
WHEREAS, the No Shame, Let�s Talk! Campaign will be implemented from May 2026, during Mental Health Awareness Month, through August 2026, and will be managed by the Communications, Information and Technology Department at a cost of $70,000.00; and
WHEREAS, said funds will support campaign messaging delivered through social media, digital media, video streaming, and audio streaming platforms; and
WHEREAS, $428,000.00 was appropriated to the Behavioral Health Advisory Board in the FY 2025-2026 Budget, and $70,000.00 of such funding shall be allocated for the cost of the campaign; and
WHEREAS, many of the people we interact with daily struggle with mental health challenges and stigma prevents countless people from seeking the support they need; and
WHEREAS, highlighting the availability of mental health treatment and support services through the No Shame, Let�s Talk! Campaign is one mechanism to reach and assist individuals who may be suffering in silence; and
WHEREAS, this Board supports the No Shame, Let�s Talk! Campaign and the BHAB�s ongoing efforts to assist individuals who may benefit from mental health support or treatment,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board authorizes the transfer of $70,000.00 from the Miami-Dade County Behavioral Health Advisory Board�s budget to the Miami-Dade County Communications, Information and Technology Department for reimbursement of services related to the No Shame, Let�s Talk! Campaign.