A Suicide Prevention Education Day event held in downtown Warren brought people together to share their messages.

Vendors shared what they can offer to people in need.

And individuals shared their messages of hope, of sorrow, and of support.

“We are accomplishing the goal of people talking about mental health,” organizer and CORE (Choosing Openness Regarding Experience) Founder Kari Swanson said. “People were very happy to see that there was an event acknowledging mental health and suicide prevention education.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Luminaries at the intersection of Liberty Street and Second Avenue on Friday carry messages from those who lost loved ones to suicide, at the Suicide Prevention Education Awareness Day event in downtown Warren.

“It has been steady all day,” Warren County YMCA Whole Health Wellness Coordinator Erin Williams said. “People are coming in and talking. That was the intention.”

“For me, today was fantastic,” Williams said. “Not only was I able to help people — I was able to connect with other providers.”

One of those was Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association of Harrisburg.

“Our organization is consumer-based — everybody in the organization has struggled with some sort of mental illness or substance abuse,” Holly Kays said. “We provide peer-to-peer services — trainings, workshops, advocacy… How we can make better resources for the attempt survivor… how we can make them not feel so on the fringe.”

“Our biggest thing is to promote recovery in every community in Pennsylvania we walk into,” Kays said.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Lara Pearson (left) and Josie Pearson share messages of support on a canvas provided by Beacon Light Behavioral Health, Friday at the Suicide Prevention Education Awareness Day event in downtown Warren.

The event and its attendees welcome PMHCA. “The community has really seemed to embrace what we have to offer,” Kays said. “I’ve had some people share some stories about their own struggles.”

Beacon Light Behavioral Health had a large canvass at its table and encouraged people to paint their feelings and messages on it.

People were opening up. “We’ve had a lot of people that have been affected by suicide,” Peer Support Ashley Carpenter said.

Family Service of Warren County had a canvass and also encouraged visitors to share their messages.

A circle of luminaries stood at the intersection of Liberty Street and Second Avenue — a memorial to those lost to suicide.

Times Observer Photo by Brian Ferry From left, Josie Pearson, Adelaide Keeports, Lara Pearson, Maddie Kent, Anabelle Harvey, and Elise Amsdell share messages of support on a canvas provided by Beacon Light Behavioral Health, Friday at the Suicide Prevention Education Awareness Day event in downtown Warren.

Swanson said funds raised by CORE will help fund future events, as well as a Serenity Garden in the works for a 2023 opening at First United Methodist Church, to provide a peaceful and calming space.

In conjunction with the Suicide Prevention Education Day event, downtown merchants and other vendors held sidewalk sales.

“People have said they loved the old feel of sidewalk sales,” Swanson said. “Just seeing the activity downtown is good. That’s what I wanted to bring back.”