An important aspect of Compeer Chester County, a nonprofit organization that pairs people living with mental health conditions with volunteer friends from the community, is social interaction. Not only do pairs enjoy activities on their own, but the organization also holds community get-togethers.

Most recently, Compeer presented its annual summer picnic at the Albert C. Miller Park in Exton. More than 30 people attended, enjoying box lunches, socializing and games, including cornhole. Some attendees also took walks around the park. Members of the Compeer advisory council helped with welcoming people, handing out lunches and supervising the games.

According to Sherry Thompsen, Compeer outreach coordinator, one attendee described the picnic as "the best day I've had in a long time."

Prior to the summer outing, the Compeer Bowling and Pizza Party was held in March at The Palace Bowling & Entertainment Center in Downingtown, the organization's first in-person event since before the pandemic.

Thompsen also announced that the international Compeer organization has adopted a new logo, which depicts the "O" in Compeer as heart-shaped and a new tagline, "Mental Wellness Starts With Friendship." "Compeer International asked all affiliates to start using this new logo. It provides a consistent look for Compeer programs, regardless of location," she noted.

As part of the program, Compeer volunteers are paired with individuals of the same gender and geographical area who share common interests. Pairs share activities such as attending a sporting event or a movie or going for coffee or lunch. Individuals in the program have been diagnosed with conditions such as depression, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, and they are referred to the program by a mental health professional.

Compeer is always in need of volunteers, who must take part in a phone interview, complete an application and have appropriate clearances. "We are in special need of older male volunteers age 55-plus," Thompsen noted.

The Compeer program would like to remind individuals that people in the U.S. can call or text 988 if they are experiencing a suicidal, substance use and/or mental health crisis. This new number, modeled after 911, went live on July 17. It offers 24/7 access to trained counselors who can talk with the callers and also direct them to additional resources for mental health and substance use issues. "If someone is concerned about a friend or family member, they can use that number as well." Thompsen noted.

Compeer Chester County is a program of Mental Health Partnerships (MHP). It is funded by the Chester County Department of Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD) and private donations.

For more information, including volunteer opportunities, contact Donna Kueny, program director, at 610-436-4445 or dkueny@mhphope.org. More information is also available at http://www.compeerchesco.org.