Photo credits: Inside group of three Lions Clubs: Provided by members
By Peter Lyons Hall
WARWICK, NY — To help address mental health concerns, suicide risks and emphasize wellness and support nationwide, three local service organizations are stepping up with a coordinated response from their respective mental health committees.
The Lions Clubs of Warwick, Florida, and Greenwood Lake, NY have formed a joint Mental Health Committee, pooling more than 230 years of combined community service to launch a sustained awareness and education campaign across the Town of Warwick.
The effort kicks off Thursday, October 8, with a free public presentation at the Florida Fire House, 19 South Main Street, from 6 to 8 p.m. The session — dubbed Lions Training Day — will feature Lion members Jeanne Marron, Ph.D., and Judy Battista, Warwick Cares Mental Health and suicide prevention advocate, who will walk attendees through how to recognize early warning signs of mental health distress, respond with basic intervention, connect people to local resources, and emphasize well-being. Those interested can RSVP by emailing Lionsclubuniteo@gmail.com.
Timed to a National Awareness Push
Organizers timed the launch deliberately. The initiative coincides with Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 4–10), World Mental Health Day (October 10), and National Depression Awareness Month, all observed in October — a season, organizers note, when shifting weather and daylight can take a toll on emotional well-being.
“Our three clubs have spent over seven decades each working side-by-side with local families, schools, and volunteer organizations,” committee organizers said in a statement. “By combining our resources, our individual ties to the mental health community, we are able to amplify our reach and share a unified message of hope across the entire Warwick valley.”
Deep Local Roots
Each club brings decades of hands-on community work to the table:
- The Warwick Lions Club, chartered in 1948, has spent 78 years on outreach projects ranging from vision screenings to childhood cancer walks.
- The Florida Lions Club, founded in 1949, has spent more than 77 years supporting youth programs like Florida Little League, along with eye screenings and family assistance funds.
- The Greenwood Lake Lions Club, marking its 75th year, traces its roots to helping fund the community’s first ambulance rig and continues to support a local food pantry, scholarships, and vision screenings.
All three are chapters of Lions Clubs International, a global service network the organizers say has made mental health and well-being a core priority — a call these local clubs say they’re answering directly.
Building Toward Ongoing Support, Not a One-Time Event
Thursday’s session is intended as the first in a quarterly training series, with future sessions covering additional mental health and wellness topics. The clubs are partnering with several established organizations to shape the programming, including Warwick Cares Mental Health Initiatives, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Team Up For Hope, and Warwick Valley VFW Post 4662.
The committee is also planning longer-term, physical reminders of the effort’s reach. Each club plans to install “Hope Benches” and memorial trees, and other community projects in its own village over the coming year — permanent outdoor installations meant to serve as, in the group’s words, “evolving touchpoints” for the community long after Mental Illness Awareness Week ends.
How Residents Can Get Involved
Attend: Lions Training Day, Thursday, October 8, 6–8 p.m., Florida Fire House, 19 South Main Street, Florida, NY.
RSVP: Lionsclubuniteo@gmail.com
Stay informed: The same email address will be used to share updates on future training and the rollout of the Hope Bench and memorial tree projects.
Through the new alliance, the three clubs say they’re reaffirming Lions Clubs International’s founding motto — “We Serve” — with a renewed focus on a challenge organizers say touches nearly every family in the Warwick valley in some way.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, suicide, substance use, or feeling overwhelmed, the 988 Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. Chat 988Lifeline.org.
Photo credits: Outside group: Peter Lyons Hall
