Participants in Sunday’s Mental Health Awareness event return to the pavilion at Kirby Park after their walk.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
A group of people who participated in Sunday’s Mental Health Awareness walks share a hug while taking a photo together near the pavilion at Kirby Park.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Ron Simon, CEO of Families United Network, welcomes everyone to Sunday’s event.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Attendees of Sunday’s event gather under the pavilion at Kirby Park.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Bobbi Jean Bair, left, peer support director for Families United Network, presents a certificate to teen Ronald Roote for his artistic achievement in designing the T-shirts for Sunday’s event.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Ashleigh Hillard, a peer support specialist, shares about what she does at Sunday’s event.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Darren Eckhart, a peer support specialist, shares his experience dealing with mental health issues and how important it is to seek help.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Participants in Sunday’s Mental Health Awareness event return to the pavilion at Kirby Park after their walk.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE — In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, hundreds gathered in Kirby Park on Sunday for an event aimed at breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness and recovery.
The Luzerne/Wyoming County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) held its first mental health awareness walk in three years, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Families United Network, Peer Help United Network, and Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health and Development Services.
“We’re thrilled with the turnout today,” said Joe Simon, CEO of Families United Network.
According to Simon, 400 people pre-registered for the walk. Along with those who registered on Sunday, the total number of participants was roughly 500.
“The goal is to bring awareness to mental health and to break down the stigma and to really also educate about how recovery is possible,” Simon said.
The walk honored Magen Washilewski, former NAMI Luzerne-Wyoming Counties executive director, and Joseph Fedak, NAMI peer leader, both of whom have since passed away.
Following their deaths, the Luzerne County chapter of NAMI became inactive. But according to Simon, the chapter will be active again soon, as it’s in the final stages of approval by NAMI Keystone.
“We just wanted to bring it back,” Simon said. “We wanted it to have a local presence in our community again.”
Sunday’s event focused on peer support and how people who’ve experienced their own mental health struggles in the past can help those who are struggling now.
Through the Peer Help United Network, created by Families United Network, certified peer specialists help people by sharing their own life experiences with mental illness.
For Simon, this kind of approach to recovery is the future of mental health education and services, especially with the shortage of behavioral health professionals.
“Who else to lead someone to a better place than someone who has done it themselves?” Simon said.
Also at the event, a handful of local advocacy groups, including the Victims Resource Center, TeenLine of NEPA, and Northeast Counseling Services, were present, offering resources to attendees.
After the walk, peer specialists shared their experiences with mental illness and recovery.
Ashleigh Hillard, who became a peer specialist in 2022, spoke about the importance of peer support.
“A peer specialist creates a safe space where people feel heard, respected, and encouraged,” she said.
That job gave Hillard a purpose in life.
“It allowed me to take my life experience and turn that into something meaningful that could help other people,” Hillard said.
One of those people was Darren Eckhart, who also became a peer specialist. Working with Ashleigh made him understand that he wasn’t alone in his struggles.
“It’s so awesome to have someone say, ‘Hey, I’ve been through that. I can help you through it,’” he said.