PATH Celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at PATH Behavioral Healthcare, we’re proud to stand with our community, clients, and team in honoring the importance of mental well-being.
Throughout the month, we’re celebrating with a series of weekly themes, uplifting activities, and heartfelt recognition; each designed to spotlight the power of connection, culture, balance, and diversity in supporting mental health.
Here’s How PATH Is Making a Difference This May:
Week 1: Honoring Our Culture & Team Spirit
We kicked off the month by celebrating what makes PATH special, our people and our shared values. From team breakfasts and gratitude walls to peer recognition moments, we’re reinforcing the culture of compassion that defines who we are.
Week 2: Encouraging Balance
We’re reminding our team of the importance of taking care of themselves, just as they care for others. Through wellness activities, intentional breaks, and giveaways focused on rest and rejuvenation, we’re putting work-life balance front and center.
Week 3: Celebrating Diversity
Mental health impacts everyone differently. This week, we’re elevating the voices and stories of those who reflect the rich diversity of the communities we serve. From cultural expression days to client appreciation events, we’re honoring the strength in our differences.
Week 4: Recognizing Our Mental Health Champions
We’re closing out the month by recognizing the heart and dedication of our incredible team. PATH will honor individuals who inspire, support, and uplift those around them, because mental health champions deserve to be celebrated, too.
Spreading the Message
As a symbol of our collective commitment, every PATH team member is receiving a Mental Health Awareness Month t-shirt, a small reminder of the big impact we can make when we lead with empathy, support one another, and prioritize well-being.
At PATH, mental health isn’t just a monthly focus, it’s a daily mission. Thank you for being part of a community that values care, connection, and compassion.
#MentalHealthAwareness #WeArePATH #WellnessAtWork
Week 1 Recap: Morale & Company Culture
What a week it has been! We began Mental Health Awareness Month by highlighting one of the things that makes PATH truly special, our people and the culture they help create every day.
At PATH, we believe that how we treat each other directly impacts the care we provide to our clients. That is why this week’s focus on connection, reflection, and appreciation wasn’t just about our team, it was about strengthening the foundation of compassion and support that our clients feel in every interaction with us.
From team coffee mornings to sharing personal stories, this first week was a powerful reminder that when we take time to recognize each other, we create a stronger, more connected environment, for our staff and the people we serve.
Kickoff and Culture Wall
Each PATH location kicked off the month with coffee and conversations, bringing teams together in simple but meaningful ways. Throughout the week, our Culture Walls filled with affirmations and shoutouts, showcasing the kindness and gratitude that define our work culture.
Real Talk Wednesday
We invited our team members to share something personal, whether it was a fun fact or a meaningful life experience. These stories brought us closer together, deepened our understanding of one another, and helped build empathy that ultimately extends to our clients.
Colleague Recognition
Our team took time to honor peers who go above and beyond to support mental and emotional wellness. These nominations reflected the care, patience, and encouragement that our clients benefit from every day. We are proud to celebrate this week’s regional standouts and the positive energy they bring to PATH.
Week 2 Recap: Work Life Balance
Week 2 of Mental Health Awareness Month at PATH focused on something essential yet often overlooked in the helping professions: maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
In a field where our team members give so much of themselves to support others, this week was a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and take small but powerful steps toward well-being. By caring for our staff, we strengthen the quality of care our clients receive.
Promoting Wellness Through Everyday Moments
Whether it was marking progress on a wellness-themed “Balance Bingo” board, stepping away for a real lunch break, or recognizing a teammate who deserves time to rest and recharge, our team came together in ways that reminded us that wellness is a shared responsibility.
These simple, intentional moments help create a culture that honors both the passion behind the work and the people doing it. When our staff are well, our clients feel the difference.
Lunch with Purpose
Offices across PATH took time to slow down and gather for lunch, turning an ordinary break into an opportunity for connection, laughter, and recharging. Taking care of our minds starts with taking moments like these seriously and joyfully.
Mental Health Day Nominations
We were moved by the heartfelt nominations from staff members recognizing colleagues who show up with care, dedication, and empathy every day. These individuals were nominated not only for their hard work but for their need, and right, to rest. The winners received time off or self-care gifts as a reminder that compassion must include the self.
Everyday Wellness
From joyful stories and shared hobbies to simple tips for self-care, our team supported each other in ways that had a ripple effect across PATH. These moments built momentum that we are carrying into the next chapter of our celebration.
Week 3 Recap: Celebrating Diversity & Mental Health at PATH
This past week at PATH, we focused on something deeply meaningful: celebrating the diversity of our community and recognizing how identity shapes our mental health journeys.
Week 3 of Mental Health Awareness Month gave us the opportunity to uplift underrepresented voices, honor individual stories, and reflect on the importance of building a workplace, and a care environment, where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected.
Highlights from a Powerful Week:
Diversity Through Dress Day
Across our teams, staff proudly showcased their identities, cultures, and personal stories through expressive attire. From traditional clothing to unique styles, each outfit reflected the richness of who we are as individuals and as a collective. This celebration of self-expression reminded us that inclusion is more than a value, it’s something we practice every day.
Client Appreciation Day
We took time to celebrate those at the heart of our mission, our clients. PATH offices hosted events where clients shared heartfelt testimonials about their personal growth and healing journeys. These messages reflected not only gratitude, but also the trust and impact that define our client relationships.
“We found PATH through my children’s elementary school. My son was experiencing behavioral issues that needed not just behavioral assessments, but also ways to properly express and cope with his thoughts and emotions. Not long after beginning therapy with PATH and seeing the good work they were doing, it was determined that I, as his mother, would also do well with therapy. After nearly two years, we are still with PATH. My son is doing wonderfully in both school and home, and I have made so much progress in my healing and coping skills. I’m deeply grateful to have found PATH. Thank you, PATH’s staff for all that you do for us!”
“I have been going to PATH since I was 14 years old. I have been treated with nothing but love and respect and I have experienced nothing but amazing treatment and immediate resources and help. The PATH team truly cares & provides such a loving environment for the patients.”
We’re honored to walk alongside every individual we serve, and we remain committed to providing care that is compassionate, culturally responsive, and inclusive.
Share Your Story: Final Reflections
This week also marked the conclusion of our Share Your Story campaign. From personal experiences to acts of advocacy and allyship, the stories shared by our staff were moving, honest, and deeply inspiring. They helped us all better understand the diverse ways mental health is experienced and supported.
A Message from PATH Leadership
As we prepare to close out Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to thank every team member who contributed their energy, honesty, and voice. Opening up about mental health can be difficult, especially for those in caregiving roles, and your courage helps break stigma and create space for healing.
At PATH, we recognize that mental health is not just a monthly focus, it’s a daily priority. Whether it’s navigating personal stress or secondary trauma from our work, self-care is essential, and support is always within reach. Our leadership is here to listen, advocate, and stand with every member of our team.
We’re not just a network of care providers, we’re a community. And no one walks this path alone.
Week 4 Recap: Honoring Our Team, Celebrating Our Purpose
As Mental Health Awareness Month came to a close, Week 4 at PATH was all about honoring the people who make our mission possible, our incredible team. It was a week filled with heartfelt reflections, joyful celebrations, and a renewed sense of purpose.
While this month highlighted many important topics, like culture, balance, and inclusion, our final week reminded us that behind every act of care is a person driven by compassion, experience, and a deep commitment to others.
Highlights from the last Week:
Passion for the Profession
Team members from across PATH shared why they do this work, and their stories were moving, honest, and inspiring. From personal mental health journeys to experiences supporting loved ones, these reflections revealed the humanity behind the helping profession.
__________
"I don’t feel as if I chose the mental health field, I feel as if it chose me. I have always struggled with my own mental health even when I didn’t know it. When I was 18 I finally took inventory of myself and my priorities and made myself one. It still took me many years to actually put in to action the things I was being told in therapy, but once I did it changed my life. I still struggle, but I want to be that person for someone else one day, that they look back and say 'hey, maybe what that lady was saying wasn’t all just nonsense.'"
__________
“I started my career in mental health because when searching for counselors for my husband and 2 children there seemed to be a lack of providers. At one point I was driving my husband 2 1/2 hours ONE WAY to meet with his therapist. Then, as a first grade teacher it was difficult to find therapists with openings to refer my students to that did not have long wait times. So, after much prayer and discussion with my husband I decided to begin the process of getting a master's degree in counseling.”
__________
“My journey with PATH began shortly after the Portsmouth, Ohio office opened as Phoenix. I transitioned from nearly eight years in a county transportation office to mental health after witnessing the severe impact my son’s mental health struggles had on our family. At a time of personal crisis—my husband’s disabling injury and my son’s declining wellbeing—I reached out to Connie for help and was met with compassion and support. That experience inspired me to join Phoenix (now PATH), initially working at the front desk, where I helped improve workflows, scheduling systems, and client coordination.
Over time, I advanced into a regional office management position and played a key role opening new locations in Ironton and Chillicothe. Eventually, I transitioned into case management, driven by a deep desire to support children and families navigating the same hardships I faced. I relate personally to parents managing IEPs, insurance gaps, and overwhelming stress. I’ve seen firsthand that true change requires a full team approach—not just medication, not just therapy, not just case management, but real, consistent support.
Being part of PATH means more than just a job; it’s a calling. I share my story openly, because I believe in offering hope and real help to those who feel broken or alone. This work is my purpose, and I truly can’t imagine doing anything else.”
__________
Each story reminded us that our team members bring more than just skills, they bring lived experience, empathy, and a genuine desire to make a difference.
PATH Awards: Celebrating Our Champions
To close out the month, we celebrated the 2025 PATH Awards, recognizing team members who uplift others, lead with heart, and embody our values every day. These peer-nominated awards honored those who create safe spaces, normalize conversations around mental health, and remind us all to care for ourselves as well as others.
From calm voices during chaos to those who lead with joy, we’re proud to celebrate the champions among us, and the incredible culture we continue to build together.
Moving Forward with Gratitude
While Mental Health Awareness Month may be over, the energy, connection, and care it inspired continue. At PATH, we remain committed to supporting both our clients and our team, every day of the year.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. Let’s continue to care deeply, listen closely, and lift one another up.
Mental Health Awareness Month at PATH:
A Month of Purpose, Connection, and Compassion
Throughout May, PATH Behavioral Healthcare came together to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, not just as a campaign, but as a reflection of our ongoing mission to support, uplift, and connect. Across four powerful weeks, our teams embraced opportunities to reflect, share, and celebrate the people and values that make PATH a place of healing and hope.
A Month of Meaning. A Mission That Continues.
As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, our commitment to mental well-being remains as strong as ever. At PATH, we believe that care starts within, with a culture that values authenticity, prioritizes connection, and uplifts every voice.
This month was not just a celebration, it was a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. We showed up for one another, we shared our stories, and we created space for healing, growth, and understanding.
But the work doesn't end here. Mental health is a daily priority, and our mission continues year-round: to foster a compassionate environment where both staff and clients feel safe, supported, and empowered. Together, we’ll keep building a culture of empathy, equity, and resilience, because every person deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for.
Thank you for being part of this journey.