Children’s Friend and Family Services Stages Flash Mobs  to Raise Awareness of Mental Health  Series  Receives Accolades for "Most Community Outreach"  

Children’s Friend and Family Services staged three Flash Mobs in the Merrrimack Valley during Children’s Mental Health Week last month to raise awareness of mental health. The Flash Mob Series was lauded for achieving the Most Community Outreach by Alison Hunt and Bonny Saulnier of  the Department of Mental Health. The theme of Children's Mental Health Week this year was 'Building Circles of Wellness' which recognized that there is more to wellness than physical health, and that maintaining wellness is a cooperative communal activity. The Flash Mobs were held at the Public Library in Lawrence, the Loop in Methuen and Campagnone Common  in Lawrence. Children’s Friend and Family Services hosted a table at the Lawrence Public Library during the Raising A Reader event. During the event youth stood up and stated a mental health diagnosis followed by an inspiring quote. At the Loop, youth stood in front of the movie theater with letters spelling “BURST THE STIGMA” and educated the crowd about the various mental health diagnoses. The Flash Mobs culminated at Campagnone Common  where the youth also wore green ribbons and glasses to attract the crowd. Over 200 people attended the Flash Mobs which were funded by a grant from the Department of Mental Health. “It was a great experience and a true success. We reached a lot of people and the youth got to witness their voices being heard,” says Glenda E. Medina, Children's Friend and Family Services Senior Family Partner and YAG Program Supervisor, who coordinated the Flash Mobs.

“Children’s Friend and Family Services was proud to take a leadership role in bringing awareness to Children’s Mental Health Week. We hope to keep the spotlight on the Children’s Mental Health to raise awareness of the children and families who need assistance and the resources in the community who can give help and hope,” says Carla Saccone, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Friend and Family Services. Visit childrensfriend.net for more information.