Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – It’s not uncommon to see multiple billboards while on a drive. Most are advertising a business or product while others promote a cause or event.
Several around Warren County will be encouraging people to seek help when struggling with mental health issues.
For the second straight year, local students submitted artwork for a chance to be displayed on billboards purchased by CORE (Choosing Openness Regarding Experiences) throuought Warren County. CORE purchases the billboards in May for Mental Health Month.
“CORE challenged the high school students to come up with their own messages for Mental Health Month through art which was judged and winners from each school were chosen to have their artwork displayed on the billboards,” CORE founder Kari Swanson said.
The artists whose work was chosen are: Katie Bunk (Eisenhower), Karson Lyon (Sheffield), Liz Kays (Youngsville), Tristan Coccaro (Youngsville), Paige Rafalski (Warren) and Logan Johnson (Warren).
The 2021 entries more than tripled the number of entries from 2020.
“Last year, there were approximately 5 entries and this year there were 17,” Swanson said.
Six of the 17 entries were chosen to be placed on billboards. Youngsville and Warren High Schools each had two students chosen, while Eisenhower and Sheffield had one each.
“In addition to the billboards, CORE has secured store windows from McKissock, Total Evolution, the old Phase 2 and Beacon Light to display all of the entries received during the month of May,” Swanson said.
The billboards are just one of the mechanisms CORE uses to help reach both students, and the population at large.
“I established CORE three years ago to spread mental health awareness and suicide prevention education to Warren County,” Swanson said. “(I wanted) to end the stigma associated with mental health and seeking help.”
In just three years, CORE has provided suicide education to Warren County School District and Warren County Jail employees, human services, churches and other organizations. In September, WCSD teachers and administrators wore suicide prevention t-shirts provided by CORE for Suicide Prevention Month.
CORE has worked extensively with WCSD students, including hosting a presentation by a speaker from Minding Your Mind out of Philadelphia for all high school students, furnishing a video presentation with follow-on discussion about anxiety for all middle and high school students, and providing all kindergarten – 2nd grade classrooms and counselors the book “Right now, I’m fine” to help children cope with anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Typically, CORE holds multiple fundraisers throughout the year, including a Glow Walk in September, but has been unable to do so due to the pandemic. Swanson hopes that will change this year.
“I am hoping to have a fundraiser event in June at Bent Run and have the suicide prevention walk again,” Swanson said.
Your Daily Local will have stories about each of the six billboard pieces, and their artists, throughout the month.
