ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Mental Health Association honored Sharon Esther Speer of Farmington with its Sandy Brandt Volunteer Service Award for her exemplary volunteer service aimed at promoting mental-health awareness throughout the state of Utah. A former Miss Davis County, Speer serves as an educator and an advocate in the Legislature, schools and public mental-health agencies.
"At 22 years of age, Ms. Speer has already devoted thousands of volunteer hours to raising awareness and improving lives," said Michael Faenza, NMHA president and CEO. "We have been moved by her tireless dedication to the mental health of her neighbors, and the creative and diverse ways she reaches out to them."
Among other things, Speer has lobbied the state Legislature for better access to appropriate care, given suicide-prevention seminars to high school students and advocated for children who have witnessed abuse. Speer also initiated the annual Mental-Illness Awareness Week in Davis County.
The Sandy Brandt Volunteer Service Award is given to one individual each year for extraordinary volunteer service and ongoing commitment to the mission of mental health associations. NMHA presented Speer with the award on June 9 during its annual conference in Washington, D.C.
The National Mental Health Association is America's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research and service.