MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
Every May, we focus on elevating awareness of mental health issues with a series of community events and programs.
J.A.M (Jana’s Art and Music) Fest
J.A.M. Fest is a community-wide mental wellness day designed to help increase well-being, build connections, and foster self-expression. Held annually in downtown State College, the event features live music, yoga, meditation, stations for creative expression, artwork to view, and more.
Art, music, and creative expression are lifelong sources of resilience, self-confidence, and happiness – so save the date for this fun-filled event.
Saturday, May 14, 2022
12pm – 5pm
Allen Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza
Art with a Theme
Take a stroll through downtown State College to view Jana Marie Foundation’s “Art with a Theme” in storefront windows. Each year, select downtown stores hosts artwork created by artists from our community during the month of May. Past themes of included guitars, elephants, birds or hope, and stopwatches.
This year’s theme: Starfish
The starfish has quite a few meanings and connotations attached to it but for me, a starfish represents and symbolizes resiliency, healing, and renewal. At Jana Marie Foundation, we often end our trainings with the starfish story by Loren Eisley, providing hope and reinforcing the reasons as to why we do the work we do.
Stop by Downtown State College to see the Starfish hanging in storefront windows!
Courses
Each year, Jana Marie Foundation offers a series of courses in May to promote mental health awareness. Check our events calendar for more information.
QPR Suicide Prevention for Gatekeepers: Learn three simple steps to help save a life. No cost public courses will be offered throughout the month and as always, feel free to email us to learn how you can bring this training to your workplace or community group! Pre-registration is required. Please register at https://janamariefoundation.org/qpr-registration. Thank you.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022: 10am – 11:30am, Virtually
Thursday, May 19, 2022: 5:30pm – 7pm at Mount Nittany Middle School
Tuesday, May 31, 2022: 10am – 11:30am, Virtually
Youth Mental Health First Aid: This evidence-based course teaches a 5-step action plan to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. We will discuss typical adolescent development and when it might be something more, look at various signs and symptoms, and discuss ways that we can engage in courageous conversations. This course will be help on Thursday, May 26th from 9am – 3pm. A two-hour self-paced introduction will be required to take the course. Cost is $35 per person. Please email info@janamariefoundation.org to enroll.
Gallery Exhibits
Stompers Project by Jana Marie Foundation: Stop by the Bellefonte Art Museum for a stomper’s exhibit in their 24-hour window display! Voice, Strength, Recovery, and Peace would all love for you to swing by to say hi!
Shining Brightly and Boldly for 10 years. View a variety of our community-based projects during a special exhibit at Mount Nittany Hospital. The display will be up throughout the month of May outside of the cafeteria.