Mental Health Awareness Month

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. We have put together a toolkit to help you spread awareness about mental health. Some pages can be printed and posted at your business for employees and customers to learn more about self-care and how to support those they know who might be struggling with their mental health. Help spread awareness about mental health!

Join the Fight for Mental Health: Your Donation can Save our School Program

 

Compeer Buffalo is urgently seeking $120,000 in funding to maintain its School Mental Health Mentoring program for the 2024/2025 school year in Maryvale and Cheektowaga Central school districts. This vital initiative, which has supported 545 students across Western New York since 2017, is at risk due to district budget cuts.

 

Program Highlights:

  • 95% of school staff recommend the program

  • 94% of students report improved self-esteem

  • 58% of students show improved attendance

  • 62% and 41% of students demonstrate increased math and reading scores, respectively

  • 99% of students would recommend the program

  • 93% of parents observe increased school attendance motivation

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Student Testimonial:

“This program helped me manage my anxiety, improve communication, and become a better version of myself.”

 

Your support matters, every donation empowers students with courage, confidence, and resilience. Join us in becoming mental health champions for our youth.

To contribute to this life-changing program, please visit our donation link below.

Donate Towards our School-Based Program

Compeer Client and Volunteer Newsletters 

All current newsletters sent to Compeer volunteers and clients can be found below. 

The following community businesses have chosen to support Compeer this month! Shop local AND support Compeer. A win win for all.

Visit this Williamsville store to select from 5 blends of tea. Visit their website

 

Visit their store for a special Caramel’s display! 
Visit their website

 

 

A portion of every service call in the month of May will be donated to Compeer! Do you have pest control needs, their staff is top notch. Give them a call! Visit their website. 

 

 

New Era Cap designed a special cap in support of Mental Health Awareness month. Pick yours up from the flagship store or through the Compeer Merch store. 

 

 

Go Pink Buffalo now supports Compeer! Purchase your very own Buffalo lawn ornament through the Compeer Merch store. 

 

 

The Women in Technology group is hosting a Sip & Shop event on 5/23. 15% of sale proceeds are being donated to Compeer. For more information about the event, visit the WIT Network Buffalo LinkedIn Page

Compeer in the News

Compeer has been featured in several news outlets showcasing the benefits that friendship brings and the awareness of mental health. Follow the links below and read up on Compeer and their involvement in the community.

Buffalo Toronto Public Media Hosts A Nostalgic Senior Prom, 11.04.2024

Hamburg Living: Compeer of Greater Buffalo Building A Mentally Healthy WNY Through Connection and Education, 10.2024

The Buffalo News: What is Mentoring Worth? The Math of Mental Health, 07.29.24

Cheektowaga Bee: Schools need help to secure funding for mental health programs, 07.25.24

WGRZ Channel 2: Compeer Buffalo raising $120k for mental health programs, 07.19.24

News 4 Wake Up, 5.14.24

Forever Young: The Compeer Connection, 3.29.24

LinkedIn Live: Dog-Friendly Workplace Policies and Why They Work. 12.13.23

"Anxiety and anger look identical": searching for solutions to an increase in teen aggression, WKBW Channel 7 10.2.23

Daytime Buffalo: Compeer Buffalo | Sponsored Segment, WIVB Channel 4 9.1.23

Cheri Alvarez, CEO of Compeer Buffalo, on Wake Up 7.14.23

Daytime Buffalo: Mental Health Education Program 5.22.23

Daytime Buffalo: Compeer Program 5.11.23

Mentors offer mental health check-ins for WNY teens 3.22.23

2 Federal Grants for Mental Health Services in WNY 1.17.23

Higgins Announces Over $957,000 in Funding for Mental Health Services in WNY 1.17.23

Building a Better Buffalo: Ellen Daly Helps Connect People 1.16.23

Exploring the Use of Virtual Reality in Alleviating Loneliness Among Older Adults: Heidi Billittier's article in NYS Behavioral Health News, page 20 Winter 2023

Compeer Buffalo makes half-day Fridays permanent after employees rave 12.9.22

Grant helps Compeer teach mental health first aid 1.21.22

Friendship Healing Mental Health 10.26.22

Compeer Buffalo joins News 4 at 4 to talk mental health 10.10.22

How to work on your family’s health one year into the pandemic 3.9.21

Three ways to help a friend on world teen mental wellness day 3.2.21

Compeer looking for volunteers to help those in need 5.4.20

Phone buddy volunteers helping Compeer participants 5.1.20

Compeer searching for mentors to improve mental health 4.28.20

Coronavirus stress creating a need for Compeer volunteers 4.15.20

Eleventh annual National Mentoring Summit goes virtual 12.17.20

City of Buffalo announces Mental Health First Aid partnership with Compeer 12.11.20

Compeer’s Tim Boling, Katie Walsh discuss importance of mental health 10.5.20

Local family honors lost son by funding Mental Health First Aid training 11.18.19

Compeer’s Purpose:  Champion Mental Wellbeing. Connect People. Build Relationships… One Friend at a Time.

 

Values:  Mental Wellbeing • Inclusion • Trust & Transparency • Integrity • Curiosity

 

Since 1985, Compeer Buffalo has been providing social support in the form of friendships, to individuals (age 6 and up) who are striving for mental wellbeing. We know that friendship decreases loneliness and isolation, therefore we offer 1:1 friendship, social engagement activities, school-based mentoring, and mental health education in our community.

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