Stables a value to mental health

The cartoon in the May 23 print edition should remind readers that if Palatine Stables closes, the community will lose an incredible resource for bolstering mental health.

That’s right. In a world with sky-high numbers of anxiety, depression and suicide, the Palatine Park District is eliminating a program that helps increase mental and physical health, calling it “an unfortunate reality.”

The unfortunate reality is that according to recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2022, the suicide rate in the United States recently reached its highest peak since 1941, a 3% increase over the previous year. The CDC also reports that 12.3 million adults considered suicide in 2021, and more than 30% of high school girls had seriously considered taking their own lives.

It is well established that interacting with horses increases mental well-being, and the sport of horseback riding is, at its minimum, a moderate cardiovascular workout. That’s the reality of the situation. I urge the commissioners to reconsider their decision and explore options to keep the Stables part of the community.

Mary Jo Butz, Founder/Founding Board Member

Megslegacyofhope.org

Hawthorn Woods