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SWB RailRiders SS Cito Culver does it in more ways than one in win

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King’s College graduates told to lead a purposeful life

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8211; Three years ago Emilia Policare, having been diagnosed as bipolar, found herself newly released from jail and determined to move forward and lead a productive life.</p><p>&#8220;A judge told me to find a support group, and that&#8217;s when I joined NAMI,&#8221; said Policare, referring to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.</p><p>Now a board member of the group&#8217;s local chapter, Policare looked out upon those gathered for the organization&#8217;s 17th annual recovery walk with a great deal of hope.</p><p>&#8220;For me, the organization provided an opportunity to start my life over again,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I volunteer a lot. I&#8217;m very close with my family, and I keep up on issues affecting mental illness.&#8221;</p><p>Policare hopes to one day be a peer specialist, continuing to reach out to others who suffer.</p><p>Those with mental illness, she said, cannot only survive, but thrive in their lives, experience joy and have fun.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m face painting today,&#8221; she said, smiling. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never done it before, but they needed someone, and I have some experience in art.&#8221;</p><p>Magen Washilewski, NAMI executive director for the Wyoming/Luzerne counties chapter in Wilkes-Barre, said the walk brought those with mental illness and their families out to the park for a bit of exercise, to enjoy a bite to eat and to socialize with others who understand the nature of mental illness.</p><p>Attendees wore gray shirts that read in neon green script, &#8220;It&#8217;s pronounced &#8216;Men-tl-IL-nes &#8211; not Krey-zee,&#8221; underscoring that mental illness is a manageable condition to which no stigma should be attached. &#8203;</p><p>Participants walked from the Guard Insurance building on River Street to Kirby Park.</p><p>Washilewski was pleased by the many representatives of mental health organizations on hand to provide information and assist to attendees.</p><p>Stephanie Simon-Dowling, a Children Service Center crisis supervisor, was on hand to provide information about the center&#8217;s various programs.</p><p>&#8220;One of our new programs is entitled &#8216;HOPE &#8211; Helping Overcome Psychosis Early,&#8217;&#8221; she said. &#8220;The program is a form of treatment for those between the ages of 15 and 25 who are experiencing early signs of psychosis.&#8221;</p><p>Cindy Mazza, vice president of Salisbury Behavioral Health, said she has seen a trend toward family-based therapy that can keep families together at home by providing consistent supportive services.</p><p>&#8220;Our family-based mental health services integrate mental health treatment, family support services and case management to continue to care for a child within their home environment,&#8221; she said.</p><p><ins>Patty Roper, assistant supervisor of case management at Community Counseling, said mental illness is not a disease, but a manageable condition.</ins></p><p><ins>&#8220;Many of those we know &#8212; doctors and other professional &#8212; have struggled with mental illness,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We want to provide access to every available resource, so they can succeed in the long term.&#8221;</ins></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Molly and Bryan Novicki, of Epona Equine Education, take Matthew Anderson, 18, of Hunlock Creek, for a ride on a horse following the NAMI Walk for Mental Health in Kirby Park Sunday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ttl052217nami-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Molly and Bryan Novicki, of Epona Equine Education, take Matthew Anderson, 18, of Hunlock Creek, for a ride on a horse following the NAMI Walk for Mental Health in Kirby Park Sunday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ttl052217nami-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Participants in the NAMI recovery walk make their way through Kirby Park. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ttl052217nami-2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Participants in the NAMI recovery walk make their way through Kirby Park. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ttl052217NAMI-3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sharon Tiognman, of Kingston, and her grandson, Jason Barrett, of Wilkes-Barre, get some snacks after the NAMI Walk for Mental Health in Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. They participated in the walk to support family members. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ttl052217NAMI-3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Sharon Tiognman, of Kingston, and her grandson, Jason Barrett, of Wilkes-Barre, get some snacks after the NAMI Walk for Mental Health in Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. They participated in the walk to support family members. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Event aims to raise awareness of mental illness</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>each the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @tlnews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

NAMI Walk for Mental Health inspires hope in participants