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Press Conference for Mental Health AwarenessThis week, I hosted a press conference in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. The purpose was to encourage individuals to seek mental health support and to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care. Speakers included the administrator for Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health Services Tina Clymer, vice president of Northbound Community Recovery Center Joe Mattioli and local student, Giana Paust. Mental health is an issue that touches every one of us. Just like our physical health, we all have mental health. Our brain is a critical organ to our wellbeing and when it’s not at its best, it requires the same urgency and compassion as any other health issue. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or even ourselves – mental health challenges are widespread and can come and go throughout a lifetime. We must reduce the stigma and encourage individuals to seek support. As the founder and co-chair of the Senate’s Mental Health Caucus, I have made it a priority to address the mental health crisis across all ages and families. I have successfully enacted, initiated, and supported numerous proposals to bolster the state’s response to this public health concern. I encourage individuals struggling with their mental health to seek the support of resources from the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or by dialing 988 to be connected to a trained professional. View the full press release here. Seniors: Protect Yourself from ScamsSadly, seniors are victimized financially not only by strangers but even people they know, such as their family member or caregiver. Scammers can swindle them out of their money, pension and even home. A variety of factors make seniors more vulnerable, including when they have recently lost a spouse, are isolated or face pressure to change their will. When they fall higher on the vulnerability scale, it’s even more important to take precautions to avoid exploitation and fraud. Scammers are becoming more skilled all the time. They have created pop-ups and ads for a “free” scan to keep your computer safe – some even with a Windows logo – that trick people into paying to fix computer problems that may not even exist. While it’s illegal to lie about finding security threats on your computer, tech firms Reimage and Restoro did that to convince people to pay tens of millions of dollars for software and services to repair made-up problems. Avoid tech support scams by never clicking a link or calling a number in a pop-up warning. Know that legitimate tech companies won’t contact you by phone, email, or text message to tell you there’s a problem with your computer. Learn more. To protect themselves, seniors should not accept calls from anyone they do not know or give personal information to strangers – regardless of who they claim to be. Review financial account statements at least monthly and contact the financial institution, credit card issuer or other provider immediately if there are unauthorized charges. Learn more. Transportation Update!Last week and this week, PennDOT has been conducting crack sealing and pothole repairs along RT80. This week, expect this work to continue and plan your commutes accordingly! You can expect to see this work between Exit 284 and Exit 210. The work is being completed by PennDOT’s maintenance forces from 8 PM – 6 AM. Grants Available to Address Environmental IssuesCounties, municipal authorities, watershed organizations, businesses and other eligible groups have until June 21 to apply for state grants to address a host of environmental issues. The Department of Environmental Protection favors projects focused on watershed restoration and protection. It also prioritizes ones that expedite on-the-ground, best management practices implementation and develop agricultural erosion and sediment control or nutrient and manure management plans. The Growing Greener Grant Program has helped to slash the backlog of farmland-preservation projects statewide, protect open space, eliminate the maintenance backlog in state parks, provide funds for recreational trails and local parks, and provide new and upgraded water and sewer systems. Memorial Day Services Across the DistrictLast weekend, I had the pleasure of attending several Memorial Day services across the 40th Senatorial District. I thank the many residents, veterans, and families who took the time to attend and organize these impactful events. Memorial Day provides a time to remember with reverence those who have fought to bring us peace which enables us to live as citizens of the greatest nation in the world with civil liberties envied and emulated by nations around the globe; in remembering the sacrifices that have been made by those who came before us, so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today, and let us honor our veterans and pay tribute to them on Memorial Day and all year-round.
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