One out of five adults experienced mental illness last year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. To raise awareness for mental health importance, Downtown Lebanon’s Main Street Promotions Committee is holding Mental Health Week.
Mental Health Week started Sunday, October 6, and will hold its final event this Saturday, October 12. To organize the week, Downtown Lebanon partnered with WellSpan Health, the Community Health Council, SARCC, DVI, and Halcyon.
It aligns with Mental Illness Awareness Week, a nationwide federally established event promoting community outreach for mental illness.
“The overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health starts right here in our own downtown,” Downtown Lebanon said in a press release.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, Oct. 8: ‘A Mother’s Reckoning’
This 6pm through 8pm book discussion at Wrinkle & Boon will focus on the book ‘A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy.’
The 2016 memoir was written by Sue Klebold, the mother of one of the Columbine High School shooters.
It was chosen by Summer Reads partners WellSpan Health, Capitol Blue Cross, and WITF Transforming Health to raise awareness for mental health issues and the availability of related resources.
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Mental Health Yoga
Yoga Asana for Mental Health, a foundation-based yoga class, will be held in Scott Church’s Living Room from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
Attendees must bring their own mats. While free, donations are encouraged.
Yoga has been tied to stress reduction and healthy management of mental illness, according to the Harvard Mental Health Letter.
Thursday, Oct. 10: Building a Resilient Lebanon County
From 11am to 2pm, come to the Worrilow Room of the Lebanon Farmers Market for ‘Building a Resilient Lebanon County.’
This event, hosted by DVI, is focused on informing attendees about the importance of the community as a place of healing from trauma.
Saturday, Oct. 12: Run Off the Stigma 5K
Closing off the week is this run-or-walk 5K, with registration opening at 7:30am and the race beginning at 9am.
The race is a loop beginning and ending at the 8th Street Trailhead of the Lebanon Valley Trailhead.
Registration, also available the day of the 5K, costs $30. Register online here.
Proceeds will go to Halcyon Activity Center, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with mental illnesses.
Open Houses
In addition to its other mental health-themed events, Downtown Lebanon is also hosting five remaining open houses in addition to two held Monday.
Today (October 8) at 1:30pm, it will hold open houses at Domestic Violence Intervention of Lebanon County (DVI) and WellSpan Philhaven.
On Thursday, October 10, Developmental & Disability Services of Lebanon Valley (DDS) and Fair Weather Lodge open houses go from 1pm to 3pm. The last open house is at Halcyon Activity Center starting at 5pm.
This article has been updated to clarify that execution of this event was led by Downtown Lebanon with partnership from other organizations.
More Top Stories
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
