OKEECHOBEE – Our Village put the health on Mental Health Awareness on Saturday, May 13, with a celebration at the Okeechobee KOA. The theme of the evening was “No Shame: Let’s talk about mental health.”

Leah Suarez , Our  Village executive director, said mental health awareness is just one of the many problems addressed by the community organization.

OKEECHOBEE -- Lizbeth Soriano, who volunteered for Our Village youth peer support program, spoke at the dinner at the KOA.

OKEECHOBEE -- Julie Radlauer-Doerfleur was the keynote speaker for the Our Village Mental Health Awareness dinner at the Okeechobee KOA on May 13.

The Our Village event included a delicious buffet dinner cooked by Our Village volunteers.

The Mexican food at the Our Village dinner was a hit!

OKEECHOBEE -- Erin Alcalay, an Our Village partner, was one of the speakers at the dinner.

OKEECHOBEE -- Leah Suarez, executive director of Our Village Okeechobee

OKEECHOBEE -- Left to right are Leah Suarez, Heather Dobbs and Steve Dobbs. The Dobbs were honored with the Community Hero Award.

OKEECHOBEE -- Leah Suarez (left) presented Casey Rogers with the Recovery Hero Award during the May 13 dinner at KOA.

OKEECHOBEE -- The Our Village dinner concluded with a live auction.

“Our Village is a gift to our community – the idea that we should not be giving people a handout; we should be giving them a hand up to be successful,” said Our Village Board Member Lonnie Kirsch.

“We’re experiencing the echo-pandemic of mental health,” said keynote speaker Julie Radlauer-Doerfleur.

Dr. Radlauer-Doerfler is adjunct faculty for the University of South Florida Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health MS program, which prepares students to serve in public sector and nonprofit organizations addressing the behavioral health needs of children, youth, and families.

“Only 20% of those with mental health issues need formal treatment,” she explained. The other 80% can have their mental health needs addressed in another way.

“We’re changing perspectives, changing how we think about mental health,” Radlauer-Doerfler said.

“We don’t have control over a lot of things in our lives. We do have control over some of the social connections in our lives.

“When physical things happen in our lives, when you have support systems you can get through those difficult times,” she continued.

“Our Village is an example of social capital. You are in a community when somebody needs something, somebody is there to help.

“If you don’t have social capital, you are stressed,” she explained.

Radlauer-Doerfler said there is a connection between social media and mental health. Social media can be damaging to mental health, but it can also be used for good.

“When we take control of social media, we can improve mental health,” she said. “If you are connecting with people, it’s better for mental health

“If you are watching something that makes you feel down in the dumps, delete it. Add something that makes you feel happy.”

Radlauer-Doerfler encouraged parents to ask to see what their kids are watching on social media and to share positive things they find.

“Every day actions we do can have an impact. Choose to focus on building connections,” she said.

Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask to help, Radlauer-Doerfler advised, adding that showing vulnerability gets you the support you need.

Other speakers for the evening included Lizbeth Soriano, who volunteered for Our Village youth peer support program, and Erin Alcalay, an Our Village partner.

Special awards were presented to Casey Rogers, Recovery Hero; Gregg Maynard, Veteran Hero; Steve and Heather Dobbs, Community Heroes; and, Caitlin Lister, Mental Health Hero.

Cari Arnold, was posthumously honored with The Cari Arnold Lifetime Achievement Award.