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Declaring The Month of May in 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and further honoring Dr. Taliba Foster for her work in the field of mental health.
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WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month has been recognized since 1949 and is designed to raise awareness and educate the public about those who struggle with mental health related issues and to reduce stigma; and
WHEREAS, Maintaining positive mental health is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In the United States, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults experience mental health challenges each year. 1 in 20 adults experience serious mental illness each year, 1 in 6 young people aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. Tragically, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 years old. These staggering statistics showcase the importance of recognizing mental health awareness in the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The theme of 2024’s Mental Health Awareness Month is entitled “Where to Start” which recognizes that mental health struggles are often times extremely overwhelming, and many do not know where to start as they begin the road to healing. “Where to Start” is designed to provide resources for those who are struggling so they can begin to get the help they deserve; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Taliba Foster is the Chief Medical Officer of Main Line Psychiatric. Dr. Foster received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, her medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, postgraduate studies at Columbia University, completed her adult psychiatric residency at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York City, and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, While at CHOP, Dr. Foster served as the Chief Fellow and was awarded the Elizabeth B. Weller. MD Award for Outstanding Clinical Fellow. Dr. Foster has also served in numerous academic roles including as an Associate Professor at Bellevue Hospital and as an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her role at Main Line Psychiatric, she has also served in numerous medical roles with The Black Brain Campaign, the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Children’s Crisis Center, and Pfizer. Her work in the medical field deserves to be honored and recognized; and
WHEREAS, On the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Council of the City of Philadelphia declares that mental health matters and that for those who are struggling, you are not alone; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby declares the Month of May in 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and further honoring Dr. Taliba Foster for her work in the field of adolescent mental health.
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