Wasilla City Council recognizes National Recovery Month

WASILLA — The Wasilla City Council recognized September as National Recovery Month during a regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Sept. 12.

Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford read the special proclamation acknowledging September as a time to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders while celebrating those in recovery.

“Preventing and overcoming mental and substance use disorders is essential to achieving healthy lifestyles, both physically and emotionally,” Ledford said. “We must encourage relatives and friends of people with mental and substance use disorders to implement preventive measures, recognize the signs of a problem, and guide those in need to appropriate treatment and recovery support services… Recovery Month spreads the message that behavioral health is essential to health and one’s overall wellness, and that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover.”

Ledford presented the proclamation to Mat-Su Opioid Task Force founder Michael Carson.

“The impact of mental and substance use disorders is apparent in our local community, and individuals in communities throughout our state have achieved and sustained long-term recovery through behavioral health treatment programs,” Ledford said. “Through Recovery Month, people become more aware and able to recognize the signs of mental and substance use disorders, which can lead more people into needed treatment.”

MyHouse Homeless Mat-Su Homeless Youth founder/CEO Michelle Overstreet was also in attendance. Ledford thanked Overstreet and the MyHouse team for their continuous efforts in the recovery community.

“We are glad to partner with you and help out in any way that we can,” Ledford said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann