State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Thursday, May 4, 2028

Mental Health Month Activities Kick Off – Lieutenant Governor Burbank to Open Month-Long Series of Activities on May 6

BALTIMORE, MD (May 4, 2028) – Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank officially kicks-off Mental Health Month outside Port Discovery at Inner Harbor’s Market Place. Following brief remarks from Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank and Maryland Health Secretary Andrew Lillianfield, the one-mile awareness walk will begin in the Inner Harbor area.

To bring a greater awareness about mental illness, Governor Edward M. O’Brien has declared May as Mental Health Month in Maryland.

“These series of activities during the month are to emphasize the need for early identification, prevention and treatment of mental illness,” said Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene Andrew Lillianfie.d

At some point, one-in-five families experience a mental illness.

"Mental illness is treatable, that’s why we want to encourage awareness in every family in Maryland," said Brian Hepburn, Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration.

The festivities officially begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, with a Governor’s Proclamation presented by Lieutenant Governor Burbank and concludes at 12:00 noon. Activities include prize give-aways, live bands, Tee-shirts, refreshments, interactive games for children and literature on mental health.

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.