You Are Not Alone - Mental Health Series
Objective
The objective of We the People Warwick’s You Are Not Alone Mental Health Series is threefold:
Get community members talking about mental health to break down misperceptions and to promote healing and a more informed community
Identify innovative, community-generated solutions to promote mental health resiliency, including a focus on helping young people
Develop clear steps to address mental health needs in a way that complements and utilizes existing programs, human resources and volunteers in the community.
Part 3 - Mental Health Action Forum
Mental Health in a Changing World: Where do we start in our community?
Saturday, May 18th, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Buckbee Center, 2 Colonial Avenue, Warwick, NY (next to the Warwick Post Office)
During Mental Health Awareness Month, We the People Warwick will host a community dialogue - "Mental Health in a Changing World: Where Do We Start in Our Community?" This event is a continuation of our series, "You Are Not Alone," which united mental health experts and Warwick residents to initiate discussions on mental health challenges within our community, including those that affect young people. A key insight from these discussions highlighted the crucial role of maintaining human connections amidst rapid societal, technological, and environmental shifts. Our forthcoming session aims to empower residents to tackle complex mental health challenges by forming action teams focused on issues they find significant. Three mental health professionals, who know the power of community-driven solutions to enhance mental health resilience, will join us to support this important conversation. Free admission for all. Registration is encouraged.
COVID PROTOCOL: In the interest of providing an inclusive event where all feel welcome and comfortable, we kindly ask that if you are not vaccinated, you wear a mask. Masks will be made available.
Read about You Are Not Alone Mental Health Series Parts 1 and 2 below.
Part 1
You Are Not Alone - Part 1 - Foundations for Healing - November 10, 2022
On November 10th, 2022 at Mountain Lake Park in Warwick, We the People Warwick (WTPW) hosted a township-wide forum made up of panelists representing various sectors of our community who shared information and perspectives on the pandemic’s impact and the current state of mental health, helped to break down misconceptions about mental health, and explored possible community-generated solutions for healing, including a focus on helping young people.
Goals of Part 1 were:
To hear perspectives about mental health from community sectors other than your own
To learn how we might begin to talk about mental health to break down the common misperceptions and stigmas associated with mental illness
To consider available information and examples of possible solutions
To explore the existing local resources and experts available to our community as we contemplate paths forward toward healing
To share your own ideas about next steps moving into Part 2 of our You Are Not Alone Series
With the help of locally available experts, resources and each other, together we are confident that we can build a more informed and resilient community.
View a video of the event here.
Part 2
You Are Not Alone - Part 2 - Community Conversations for Connection and Caring - April 29, 2023
Following on from the significant attendance and positive feedback received from part 1 where we broke the ice and began the difficult process of dismantling the stigma associated with mental health issues, in part 2 we moved on to extend the conversation and continue the work to address the specific mental health needs here in Warwick. The vision is for a cross-sector coalition to identify the components of and pathways forward for building Warwick as a resilient, supportive, and inclusive community.
On April 29th, participants discussed ways the community can work together to improve prevention of mental illness and promote mental health and well-being.
Topics explored in breakout groups were:
Mental health education
Suicide prevention and intervention
Intersection of mental health and substance use
Mental health care
Youth mental health crisis
We the People Warwick (WTPW) encouraged participation by the entire Warwick Township community and we had a good turnout. Thank you! Mental Health issues in our communities, particularly for our youth, are complex and challenging. But we can continue to come together to increase our understanding and raise awareness.
Part 2 - April 29th - Agenda
Please note: Breakout topics in the morning session were repeated in the afternoon session to give participants the option to be involved in two discussion topics.
9:00 - 9:30 AM - Check in
9:30 - 9:45 AM - Welcome, Opening, Agenda for the Day
9:45 - 10:00 AM - Breakout Room Transition/Settle In
10:00 - 11:15 AM - Session 1 Topical Breakouts
11:15 - 11:30 AM - Report Out from Session 1
11:30 - 12:15 PM - Lunch (provided)
12:15 - 12:30 PM - Welcome to Newcomers, Agenda for the Rest of the Day, Breakout Room Transition/Settle In
12:30 - 1:45 PM - Session 2 Topical Breakouts
1:45 - 2:00 PM - Report Out from Session 2 and Closing
Together, we can make a difference.