May is National Mental Health Month. To raise awareness about the stigma associated with mental and behavioral health issues, a local task force has launched the Think Again! about Mental Health campaign. The task force consists of people from area health and human service agencies, as well as interested community members.

Throughout the month look for billboards, posters, and newspaper ads featuring the Think Again! message, as well as weekly articles on various aspects of mental health in the Cortland Standard. The Cortland Free Library is also hosting a table with books and various resources about mental health in the main reading area.

Specific areas of behavioral health are the focus in the coming weeks:

May 7-13, Children's Mental Health Week
May 14-20, Mational Alcohol and Drug-Related Birth Defects Week
May 21-27, National Schizophrenia Awareness Week
May 21-27, Older Americans' Mental Health Week

April Mass Meltdown Blood Screening Results Now Available

Family Fun Nights at the YMCA

We hope you and your family will join us for a fun series of evenings at the YMCA at 22 Tompkins Street. Family Fun Nights feature arts and crafts, games, and a healthy snack, all centered around a monthly theme. Cost is $5 per family. You do not have to be a Y member to attend, but Y members are free. Scholarships are available — if interested, please contact the YMCA at (607) 756-2893. See poster.

Central New York Diabetes Prevention Partnership

Seven Valleys Health Coalition is home to the Central New York Diabetes Prevention Partnership, CNY-DPP. Grant funding from the New York State Department of Health for diabetes prevention and management is used to present workshops for diabetics, sponsor support groups, and diabetes education programs. Funding also covered a diabetes update for medical providers, which was held this past spring.

Anyone interested in adding their name to the mailing list to receive the annual diabetes newsletter or workshop flyers should call Seven Valleys Health Coalition at (607) 756-4198.