Mayor Gary Davis announcing the proclamation at Friday’s event. From left, Judge Andrew Freiberg, State Rep. Dan Howell, Mayor Davis, and Mayor Tom Rowland
photo by Cody Aulidge
Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland and Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis visited Lee University’s campus for Five For All’s kick-off event Friday in Lee’s Alumni Park. The event was held to mark the mayors’ proclamation naming the week of Feb. 19 Mental Health Awareness Week.
Five for All is an initiative started by five Lee University public relations students on this year’s Bateman team desiring to impact change in their community by raising awareness of mental health and the five signs of emotional distress. The five signs include personality change, agitation, withdrawal, poor self-care, and hopelessness.
Bateman is a national competition created by the Public Relations Student Society of America. Each year more than 60 schools create separate public relations campaigns in their local regions for a single client by PRSSA. This year’s client is Campaign to Change Direction. The founder of the CCD created the five signs of emotional distress to create a common language for emotional health nationwide.
Lee’s Bateman team is competing against approximately 70 other Bateman teams on various university campuses across the United States, all of whom are implementing a campaign for CCD.
Members for this year’s Bateman team at Lee include Cody Aulidge, Meagan Brazier, Emily Honeysett, Amy Marona, and Bethany Timmons.
“The Lee University Bateman Team has been working since August on this important campaign,” said Dr. Patty Silverman, professor of public relations and faculty sponsor of the team. “This topic today is so important, and for these five public relations students to be able to make a difference in their local community is an accomplishment at a professional level.”
The Friday event was held at the Alumni Park Gazebo on Lee University’s campus. The ceremony meant to engage the Cleveland and Bradley County community in a conversation about the five signs of emotional distress, and as a result both Rowland and Davis presented a proclamation to support Five for All’s campaign and declare the week of Feb. 19 Mental Health Awareness Week.
“Mayor Davis, Mayor Rowland, Rep. Dan Howell, and Judge Freiberg have all done great work in making our community a true home to our citizens,” said Amy Marona, Five for All team member. “Their presence at Friday's proclamation event for Mental Health Awareness Week helps give us a deeper reach into Cleveland and Bradley County as a whole. This campaign is for our entire community, not just Lee University. The issue of mental health goes beyond college students because it can affect anyone in any walk of life.”
Mayor Davis concluded the event by commending the Five for All Bateman team for building awareness for mental health and shared his gratitude for the impact this proclamation can have on the community.
For more information on Five for All, call 850.380-4858, email leeubateman2017@gmail.com, or follow on Facebook, Twitter at @FiveforAllTN, and Instagram at @fiveforalltn.
From left, Dr. Patty Silverman, Emily Honeysett, Amy Marona, Mayor Tom Rowland, Mayor Gary Davis, Meagan Brazier, Bethany Timmons, and Cody Aulidge
photo by Cody Aulidge