Children’s Mental Health Awareness Picnic to be held May 8
WAYNESBURG – Greene County Human Services will present the first annual Children’s Mental Health Awareness Picnic in Ritchie Park in Waynesburg on Thursday, May 8 from 3 to 7 p.m.
The event is open to the public and there is no admission fee. There will be free food and raffles, as well as a photo booth by McMillen Photography and music by DJ SBK.
Ritchie Park is located on the north side of Waynesburg, between College and Richhill streets. In the event of rain, the picnic will be held indoors at the Greene County Fairgrounds.
The event coincides with National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 8. Awareness Day seeks to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development from birth.
Resources will be available at the picnic to anyone in need of mental health services and support.
The picnic is sponsored by Greene County Human Services, Greene County System of Care Partnership, PA System of Care Partnership, and the Greene County commissioners.
For more information about the event, call Greene County Human Services at 724-852-5276.
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in addition to the picnic, there are several other events being held throughout the month that recognize the importance of mental health awareness.
The psychiatry and counseling department at Cornerstone Care, located at 501 West High Street in Waynesburg, will present “A Day of Education and Acceptance” on Friday, May 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Those who attend will have the opportunity to meet Cornerstone Care’s new psychiatrist, Dana Morton, MD, and there will be several presentations offered. Topics will include: “Understanding your Psychiatric Medication,” “How Trauma Affects Your Brain” and “Identifying Personality Disorders.”
Presentations will be held at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Door prizes and light refreshments will be provided.
For more information, call Cornerstone Care in Waynesburg at 724-627-4309.
Also in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Southwest Regional Medical Center is hosting a series of events designed to raise awareness and offer education about mental health issues. This mental health month wellness series is designed to improve the quality of life for anyone willing to take the time to participate. Topics to be covered include stress, anxiety and addiction.
The series will offer the following seminars. Each will be held at noon in the Guesman Room at Southwest Regional Medical Center.
n May 8: “Opiates: A Tragic Love Story” with presenter Tom Schlosser, MA, CAADC. Learn about the signs of opiate addiction and why so many fall into this web of addiction.
n May 13: “Self Care as a Key to Anxiety” with presenter Jonathan Johnson, MSW, LCSW. Self-care is an important key to reducing anxiety. Johnson will demonstrate his new Anxiety Resolver App and show you how it can help you minimize feelings of anxiety.
n May 21: “What Does Happiness Look Like?” with presenters Erica Detrick, MSW, LCSW, CAADC. Being happy is a goal we all aspire to. What does it look like and how can you get there?
n May 27: “Addiction” with Richard Ajayi, MD. Addiction has taken over our society at an alarming rate. Learn the signs of addiction and how you can help someone you love break free.
All presentations are open to the public. Light lunch will be provided.
To make a reservation, call 724-627-2412.