PENN YAN–May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Yates County residents, schools, and organizations will once again raise their voices to promote mental health and well-being for all. Why? Because mental health challenges are extremely common in our community and across the U.S. More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults (or 61.5 million people) experience a mental illness each year, while nearly 1 in 10 report experiencing a mental health crisis in the past year.
“We’ve seen first-hand in our department how supportive relationships and community connections foster a sense of belonging and promote mental health, regardless of whether someone has a diagnosis,” said Lisa Principio, LMSW, director of Yates County Community Services Department (YCCS). “We’ve been blown away with the participation and support for this month of awareness in previous years, so I can’t wait to see how our community steps up in 2026.”
During the month of May, YCCS is hosting several ways for community members for get involved:
• May 1-8, ‘Chalk the Walk, Have the Talk’: YCCS provides sidewalk chalk for anyone who’d like to draw images/messages of recovery and support in our towns and villages.
• May 4-5, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): FREE 2-day intensive training that teaches participants how to assist those at risk for suicide. Pre-registration required.
• May 7, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Show your support by wearing the new YCCS ‘Mental Health Matters’ t-shirt, one from previous years, OR by wearing green!
• Be seen in Green!: YCCS is giving out green ribbons in the Yates County Building foyer to wear all month long, or wear green whenever you can.
• Self-care treat: Seneca Farms in Penn Yan will offer a special ice cream flavor to raise awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, and promote support for individuals and families affected by mental illness.
The YCCS funds and oversees comprehensive community-based behavioral health programs serving Yates County residents and their families. We coordinate with local, regional, and state partners to strengthen service delivery, provide consultation, and advocate for community members impacted by behavioral health challenges. For more information and to access the online Yates County Community Resource Guide, visit: https://www.yatescountyny.gov/156/Community-Services.
“We’ve seen first-hand in our department how supportive relationships and community connections foster a sense of belonging and promote mental health, regardless of whether someone has a diagnosis,” said Lisa Principio, LMSW, director of Yates County Community Services Department (YCCS). “We’ve been blown away with the participation and support for this month of awareness in previous years, so I can’t wait to see how our community steps up in 2026.”
During the month of May, YCCS is hosting several ways for community members for get involved:
• May 1-8, ‘Chalk the Walk, Have the Talk’: YCCS provides sidewalk chalk for anyone who’d like to draw images/messages of recovery and support in our towns and villages.
• May 4-5, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): FREE 2-day intensive training that teaches participants how to assist those at risk for suicide. Pre-registration required.
• May 7, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Show your support by wearing the new YCCS ‘Mental Health Matters’ t-shirt, one from previous years, OR by wearing green!
• Be seen in Green!: YCCS is giving out green ribbons in the Yates County Building foyer to wear all month long, or wear green whenever you can.
• Self-care treat: Seneca Farms in Penn Yan will offer a special ice cream flavor to raise awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, and promote support for individuals and families affected by mental illness.
The YCCS funds and oversees comprehensive community-based behavioral health programs serving Yates County residents and their families. We coordinate with local, regional, and state partners to strengthen service delivery, provide consultation, and advocate for community members impacted by behavioral health challenges. For more information and to access the online Yates County Community Resource Guide, visit: https://www.yatescountyny.gov/156/Community-Services.
