WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — This month is about breaking the silence when it comes to mental health, and connecting those who are struggling with support and resources. 28/22 News was in Wilkes-Barre, where one group is raising awareness.
Peer Help United Network knows emotional and mental health challenges are not experienced alone.
“Everybody. It touches everybody. Whether that’s in your friends in your family, in your social networks, whatever,” Peer Help United Network Executive Director Joe Kloss explained.
One in four adults deals with mental health challenges, while one in five children has a mental health diagnosis.
“Sometimes it’s nice to have that person who has been through it so that they can share with us their feelings; we are not going to judge them, we understand different feelings, and we help to normalize the conversation,” Peer Help United Network Director of Peer Services Bobbie Bair told 28/22 News.
Established this past November, the new organization works as a part of Family United Network, providing counseling and advice to those in need.
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Those helping are members of the community who have been in similar spots, in the hope of bridging the gap between people.
Yet, the efforts aren’t stopping there. Peer Help United Network is partnering with multiple agencies across Luzerne County to help bring back the mental health walk.
Stopping three years ago, it is coming back on Sunday and taking place in Kirby Park.
Both the network and the various partners say that it is the ability to work together that helps them provide for those they serve, saying that collaboration is the key to better care.
“The more we can collaborate, the greater we can extend our reach. The more people we can reach, the more chance that folks will be able to recognize those symptoms and where to go to get help,” Wyoming Valley Behavioral Health Director of Social Services Angelique Cortez stated.
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