Warwick Cares to host mental health awareness event

In observance of National Mental Health Awareness Month, celebrated each May since 1949, Warwick Cares will host its second annual Mental Health Month Awareness celebration on Saturday, May 4, from noon to 4 p.m. at Railroad Green in the village of Warwick. (The rain date is Sunday, May 5).

“Mental health is described as being much more than the absence of a mental illness or conditions,” said Judy Battista, mental health and suicide prevention advocate and a survivor of suicide loss. “It is a combination of our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects aspects of our lives. How we think, how we feel, how we act, relate to others, deal with stress, and influence how we make healthy or unhealthy lifestyle choices. We cannot separate the correlations of body, mind and spirit.”

On May 4, more than 20 mental health and wellness organizations, community and civic groups will be on hand to provide information. The speakers include Warwick’s own active duty servicemember, and author of “Unspoken Words, Thoughts of a Solider,” Alexander R. Stuart; an official from Orange County Team Mobile response; Pine Island farmer and filmmaker Chris Pawleski; and Michael Bark, of the Orange County Youth Bureau, among others.

There also will be “Messages of Hope” created by middle school students; members of St. Anthony Community Hospital, senior citizens, teens, the Taekwondo Youth Leadership Academy, EMS agencies, fire departments, and members at large. These signs will be displayed throughout the community to raise awareness about mental health.

Green is the color for mental health awareness and organizers ask the community to participate by displaying a green ribbon or a message of hope, kindness and encouragement on their windows, doors, storefronts, and front yards. You can also include the national call/text line: 988.

Warwick Cares also offers free trainings in “Mental Health First Aid,” and “Talk Saves Lives” suicide prevention programs to the community in May. Warwick Cares is also looking for volunteers and students needing community service who would like to help on May 4.

“In the last 16 years since our son, Danny, died,” Battista said, “I do see a hopeful change in awareness. Since we first had our walks in Warwick and events for survivors events for various years, more people are talking about it. It is a first step in creating a culture that will talk about mental health.”

For more information, email warwickcaressigns@gmail.com or go to linktr.ee/warwickcaresny.