Damita Harvey and Dr. Meredith Leach in the center of the photo.
Credit: Submitted
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Bucks County honored two community leaders with the Outstanding Community Partner Award last weekend for their long-standing commitment to mental health awareness and education in Bristol Township.
Dr. Meredith Leach, a certified school social worker at the Bristol Township School District, and Damita Harvey, associate director of No Longer Bound Prevention and Training Services and founder of the Bristol Cares Coalition, were recognized at NAMI’s annual Stride of Mental Health Awareness event.
The award celebrates their efforts to integrate mental health support into the daily life of students and families.
Leach and Harvey are frequently partners in bringing NAMI initiatives into the school district to combat mental health stigma.
The school district, officials say, has been receptive to the programs.
“In BTSD, we have always believed that mental health awareness is not just a cause,” Leach said. “It’s a responsibility that we all share. Throughout the years, we have been extraordinarily grateful to partner with NAMI to provide meaningful, authentic, mindful, and necessary education to our students.”
Nicholas Emeigh, executive director of NAMI Bucks County and a Harry S. Truman High School alumnus, pointed to the collaboration.
“Partnering with NAMI is never a one-time thing or a box to check,” Emeigh said. “Bristol Township School District invites us year after year to multiple events. Through our partnerships, we reach every student at every grade level to crush stigma.”
The collaboration includes expanding NAMI’s Small Talk program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The 30- to 45-minute program helps younger students discuss mental health, learn to name their feelings, differentiate between emotions and practice healthy coping skills.
The district is also involved with NAMI on numerous other efforts, including back-to-school nights, family nights, extracurriculars, and after-school programs.
“Everything a school district can do to partner with us, Bristol Township School District is doing,” Emeigh added.
Harvey underscored the importance of a unified approach.
“Thank you to Bristol Township for being open to community programming and making opportunities for our young people and their families,” Harvey said. “I truly believe in the value of working together as a community to help people feel seen, valued and heard.”
One particularly impactful event cited was the annual Suicide Prevention Walk at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. This past May, students raised more than $1,000 for NAMI to support its youth mental health education program.
In addition, NAMI presented the Legacy Award to Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Senior Judge Rea Boylan at the Stride of Mental Health Awareness event.
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