Mental Health Awareness Month

Ileana Kniss, Lakeland Vision Board Member and Director of Community Relations and Development at Peace River Center, visits with Candace Barnes, COO of Peace River Center, to discuss Mental Health Awareness Month which focuses on fighting the stigma, providing support and educating the public about the realities of living with mental illness.  On this edition of the Listen Lakeland Show, Candace Barnes of the Peace River Center shares her knowledge gained over 14 years on how to create acceptance and how to start the conversation with friends, colleagues and loved ones on mental health.  Information was also shared about “Make It OK” which is a community campaign to reduce stigma by starting conversations and increasing understanding about mental illness. The campaign, which will take place year-round following the May 2021 kick-off, is focused on simple steps anyone can take to learn, talk, and share about mental illness.