Mental Illness Week to Begin With Vigil
To kick off National Mental Illness Awareness Week and protest the proposed closure of Camarillo State Hospital, members of Families and Advocates for the Mentally Ill will hold a candlelight vigil Sunday night in Ventura.
Dozens of people will meet at 6:45 p.m. at the statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of City Hall, then walk two blocks down California Street to the corner of Santa Clara Street.
Similar vigils will be held across the country in observance of National Mental Illness Awareness Week. In addition to observing the awareness week, the Ventura County group is protesting the proposed closure of Camarillo State Hospital, scheduled to shut down in July because of rising costs.
A state-appointed task force will meet Monday to consider a recommendation by consultants to convert the property to a public university.
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