HUMAN SERVICES NEWSLETTER
MAY 9, 2024

MAY IS MENTAL  HEALTH MONTH

As part of Mental Health Month, the Mercer County Division of Mental Health is pleased to share helpful resources from Mental Health America. This year’s Mental Health Month theme, “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World,” reminds us that dealing with life’s pressures can be overwhelming, and everyone deserves to be supported and empowered to seek the help they need.

According to Mental Health America, negative emotions like fear, sadness, and anger are a basic part of life, and sometimes we struggle to deal with them effectively. It can be tempting to act on what we're feeling right away, but that often doesn’t fix the situation that caused the emotions. In fact, it may lead to more problems to deal with down the road.

With practice, everyone can do a better job of dealing with their negative emotions in healthy ways. One way to deal with uncomfortable or unpleasant emotions is to remember the word PATH. PATH stands for:

• Pause
• Acknowledge
• Think
• Help

If you have any questions about mental health, or concerns about your mental health or that of someone you know, please contact Michele Madiou, Mental Health Administrator, of the Division of Mental Health at mmadiou@mercercounty.org or 609-989-6529.

CALL FOR ESSAYS AND PICTURES

May 15 is the United Nations International Day of Families. Observance of this day reflects the importance that communities attach to families as a basic unit of society, and allows us to promote a better understanding of the functions, problems, strengths, and needs of families. The Mercer County Commission on the Status of Women and the Zonta Club of Trenton/Mercer ask you and your children to join them in celebrating this day as they host a contest throughout Mercer County for students to reflect on “What Family Means to Me.”

The entry forms are due Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Twenty-five dollar gift certificates to Barnes & Noble will be given to children whose entries are selected. A minimum of ten prizes will be awarded. Recipients will be notified through the school in which they are enrolled. The recipients and their families will be asked to attend a brief presentation and light dinner at Lawrence Library at 2751 Brunswick Pike (Business Rt. 1 South), Rooms 1 and 2, Lawrence Township, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 6 p.m. to receive their prizes.

For more information, contact Nancy Thomson of the Zonta Club at nancy.c.thomson@gmail.com.

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The Mercer County Department of Human Services fosters a comprehensive human service delivery system that enhances the health, safety, and quality of life for all residents of Mercer County. The department's goal is to create an environment of public trust by empowering and strengthening individuals and families, advocating for sound policy, mobilizing resources, and acting as champions for those citizens who are most vulnerable and in need of services.

Through its offices and divisions, the Department of Human Services provides funding to community-based organizations for those organizations to provide direct services to Mercer County residents. The department does not provide direct services to Mercer County residents, but directs Mercer County residents to where they can access services. With this funding, the Department of Human Services complies with procurement practices in accordance with the New Jersey Public Contracts Law 40:A:11-1 et seq.