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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Commissioners recognized both Workers Memorial Day and Mental Wellness Day during their most recent board meeting.
The entire month of May is known as "Mental Health Awareness Month" and more specifically, May 14 is Mental Wellness Day.
Marisa Vicere, with the Centre County Suicide Prevention Task Force, spoke briefly on many of the different celebrations and activities through the Jana Marie Foundation that are taking place in the county for this month.
She mentioned Jams Fest, from 12-5 p.m. on May 13, which will feature five bands and various engagement stations for all ages. She was also excited to show off some of the art fitting this year's theme: wolves.
"We have all different wolves that are painted by community members that will be hanging in downtown businesses in State College," said Vicere.
Catherine Arbogast, Drug and Alcohol Administrator, said, "In addition to all of the activities that the Jana Marie Foundation will be hosting, the 17th annual celebration of Mental Health Recovery will be happening on Thursday, May 18, at 4:30 p.m... The theme this year is 'This is Us.'"
"It's an opportunity to recognize those that we've lost, those that we celebrate and the theme says it all. We welcome everyone to join us," said Arbogast.
For more information about this event, you can contact the Clubhouse at 814-867-1454.
May is a wonderful time to recognize and raise awareness for mental health issues, but Arbogast pointed out that mental health struggles don't just happen in May.
"Year-round we need to focus on the incredible importance of good mental health care and encourage folks in need to reach out and get help," said Arbogast.
"One of the things we really love about Centre County is how so many different organizations and agencies really work together. There's a lot of different collaborations that happen behind the scenes -- from the typical people you'd expect to have at the table but also so many other organizations that really get behind these initiatives as well," said Vicere.
Commissioner Steven Dershem was quick to point out that Marisa Vicere is being nationally recognized for her efforts in mental health first aid. She will be receiving an award this weekend for her efforts in Centre County. This year she is also one of the Outstanding State College Alumni Inductees and will be recognized in May.
"I am being recognized as the Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor of the year," said Vicere, "I will be going out to Los Angeles to receive that award on Sunday."
"For the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, increased state funding for mental health is one of our key legislative priorities," said Vice-Chair Amber Concepcion, "With the fact that we've not had those kinds of increases over the past dozen years organizations like the Jana Marie Foundation have really stepped in to fill the gap."
The commissioners also recognized Workers Memorial Day in the county.
Connor Lewis, President of Seven Mountains Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, was in attendance representing the approximate 16,000 members of union households in the labor council as well as around 7,000 union households within Centre County.
Seven Mountains is one of nearly 500 state and local labor councils of the AFL-CIO. They represent the interests of working people in Centre, Mifflin, Huntingdon and Juniata counties.
"Workers Memorial Day is observed every year on April 28 -- the anniversary of the passage of the Occupational, Safety and Health Act. It is observed in memory of those who have lost their lives or health on the job," said Lewis.
"Unfortunately, over the past several years we've had far too many individuals that we have to remember ranging from skilled trades people, to bus drivers, to education support staff and, of course, the dedicated care workers at Mount Nittany Healthcare," said Lewis.
The motto of Workers Memorial Day, according to Lewis, is taken from Mary Harris who was an Irish immigrant better known as "Mother Jones." Harris was a leader in the American Labor movement.
Lewis said, "She was a person who was never known to back down from a fight if it meant advocating for working people. One of the things she said was, 'We should mourn for the dead and fight for the living.' That is what (we) do every single year on April 28; we take that time to remember those we've lost and recommit to fighting for workplace safety and dignified work for all workers."
This day is observed not only by workers in the United States, but in over 100 different countries.