Mental Health Resources, Fun For Kids Combine In Wall Event

WALL, NJ — The Allaire Community Farm Children's Mental Health Awareness Day was a huge event to orchestrate, with 680 guests and 40 agencies represented.

And Jo Ann Burney with her husband Sean, co-founders of the farm - plus her staff - managed to create a fun-filled - and information-filled - event May 13.

"This is the seventh year we did this," Jo Ann Burney said, "and it's needed more than ever. We all know the country is in a mental health crisis."

Kids, adults and families learned about the mental health assistance available in Monmouth County, while enjoying all the attractions of the farm - such as hay rides and a petting zoo. And the larger community got involved by donating food and refreshments for the event, which took place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., after regular farm hours.

Under a big pavilion at the farm, representatives from the 40 agencies met with parents or other adults, while kids enjoyed hayrides or the zoo.

Monmouth Cares coordinated the agencies for the event, Burney said, and she got the word out for the visitors and also handled the activities and food.

Speaking of food, it was donated by Jersey Mike's, Bubbakoo's Burritos of Wall, Wall Whole Foods, Rocco’s Pizza in Bradley Beach and Mulligan's Bar and Restaurant in Farmingdale, Burney said.

Monmouth Cares is a nonprofit organization that is responsible for "face-to-face care management and comprehensive service planning for youth and their families with complex needs."

Contact them as a good starting point for mental health needs, Burney suggested.

If you did make it to this event, or plan to go next May, Burney said there were a lot of benefits in having so many agencies in one place.

"We had people going to all the tables - all in one place," Burney said of the information tables set up by the agencies.

It was like a carnival of simultaneous activity - mental health information, kids enjoying the petting zoo, people eating and milling about - and farm animals making the scene complete.

The event was held in partnership with the state CIACC, Children's Interagency Coordinating Councils of New Jersey, of the state Department of Children and Families, and with Monmouth County.

This is a link to Monmouth County mental health services. The Children and Youth Behavioral Resource Guide for Monmouth County has more information as well. The event was attended by Monmouth County Commissioners Tom Arnone, Sue Kiley and Nick DiRocco, Burney said.

“Allaire Community Farm is a true community partner with tons of programs available to residents of all ages. This annual event encourages families to enjoy all Allaire Community Farm has to offer as well as connect families with local resources to support a child’s mental health," Arnone said.

For Burney, the event was in keeping with the farm's mission.

Allaire Community Farm is a nonprofit organization, offering programs for rescued animals, special needs adults, at-risk teenagers, veterans and those suffering from PTSD, and families facing cancer, among other programs, Burney said.

Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is an annual event that is part of the farm's schedule of regular programming.

Various initiatives include training for young adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, holiday events and more to connect the community with mental health services.

Recently it added a large, high-tech greenhouse to the facility as part of a program to train IDD young adults in agriculture.

As Burney alluded to, mental health issues in America have been in the forefront of discussions lately, especially in May, designated as Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental Health America reported 2023 finding about American's mental health challenges, including these statistics:

• In 2019-2020, 20.78 percent of adults were experiencing a mental illness, or 50 million Americans.
• The vast majority of individuals with a substance use disorder in the U.S. are not receiving treatment. It reports that 15.35 percent of adults had a substance use disorder in the past year. Of them, 93.5 percent did not receive any form of treatment.
• Millions of adults in the U.S. experience serious thoughts of suicide, with the highest rate among multiracial individuals. The percentage of adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide is 4.84 percent, totaling over 12.1 million individuals.
• Over 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life.

For Burney, she holds the event in May to give attention to the mental health crisis - and to help find solutions.

"We do this in cooperation with agencies in Monmouth County. If you have a child in crisis, you can get information one place," she said.