ACTON — The Town of Acton is hosting two programs aimed at supporting the mental health of the community. It’s all part of Mental Health Awareness Month, which is May.
Town Manager John S. Mangiaratti stated in a press release that the objective of Mental Health Awareness Month is to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and to promote strategies and support for prioritizing mental health.
The North West Public Health Coalition, which serves Acton, Westford, Lowell, and Dracut, provided funding to the town for both programs, which are aimed at supporting the mental health of the community. Brittany Nash is facilitating the programs, with Health & Family Services Director Penelope Funaiole and Director of Libraries Maria Palacio serving as department sponsors.
The programs are as follows:
Youth Mental Health First Aid will be held on Thursday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Acton Town Hall (located at 72 Main Street) in Meeting Room 204.
This training program is designed to teach adults how to recognize, understand, and address signs of mental health and substance use issues in children and adolescents aged 12-18. To sign up, please contact Regional Community Health and Wellness Coordinator Brittany Nash at bnash@westfordma.gov.
Breathe for Change, a guided meditation program, will take place on Friday, May 10, and Friday, May 17, from 10-11 a.m. at the Acton Memorial Library on 486 Main Street. Interested participants can register online at actonmemoriallibrary.org/calendar.
For questions about the Mental Health Awareness Month programming, please contact Laura Ducharme at 978-929-6651 or lducharme@actonma.gov.
