image description — Some 250 people participated in painting and mindfulness activities on the Common last Saturday.

NAMI Berkshires Holds Youth Mental Wellness Fair

Community submission01:31PM / Saturday, July 19, 2025Print Story | Email Story

The fair offered tables for other organizations to share resources.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — NAMI Berkshire County held its first ever Youth Mental Health Wellness Fair on July 12 at the Common, in conjunction with Roots Risings' Pittsfield Farmers Market.

The local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness attracted close to 250 people to the "big tent" to partake in painting activities including T-shirts under the guidance of local artist Mike Carty, birdhouses, wellness rocks and flowerpots, and planted flowers in pots and made friendship bracelets.

Several non-profit organizations also participated in the event, sharing information on the resources and programs they provide, including Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Berkshire Music School, which also provided a variety of instruments for the kids to experience from their "musical petting zoo."

Elizabeth Heller, author of "Breathe, Move, Journal," led a group session on fun mindfulness activities for kids that encourage emotional and physical well-being. Joanna Barzottini provided chair massages and Balloon Ben Wibby created balloon animals for the kids.

"The event was definitely a success," said Ruth Healy, president of the NAMI Berkshire County board of directors. "We weren't sure what to expect as far as turnout goes, but we had a steady stream of adults and children from the beginning to the end. We absolutely plan to hold this event again and hope to partner with even more organizations to make the event bigger and better."

She said NAMI's mission is to provide support, education and advocacy to all those in our community whose lives are affected by mental health issues.

"Our youth are our future and we need to help them feel that their lives matter and that we listen to their fears and concerns and help them learn coping strategies," she said. "If we helped to enrich the lives of these young people at this event, then we succeeded in our goal."

Healy said the organization was grateful to everyone who participated and especially Berkshire Health Systems and Guardian Life Insurance Company for their financial backing: "We couldn't have held this event without their support."

Learn more about NAMI Berkshire County at www.namibc.org.

Tags: health & wellness, NAMI, resource fair,

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Free Vaccinations Available Throughout Berkshire County

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
10:30AM / Saturday, October 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fall season is also the flu season, which means vaccine clinics are now available.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative will provide public vaccination clinics in Berkshire communities this fall, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. There are about 49 clinics.

The collaborative began during COVID-19 to help vaccinate people across Berkshire County. Berkshire Health Systems started the Get Vaccinated Berkshires website and still manages it. The group works with the Pittsfield Public Health Department, Community Health Programs, and the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative.

"The majority of people will always get the flu [vaccine] because, as I said, if you've ever gotten the flu, you will always get a flu vaccine because it's so bad. And just so you know, the flu is already in Berkshire County. It's an early season this year," said Leslie Drager, who is the senior public health nurse at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Drager said last year they issued 2,705 vaccines, with more than 1,100 of them being for COVID-19 and more than 1,500 being flu. In total, they were able to vaccinate 1,669 people in Central and North County, in addition to Pittsfield.

Drager also said she will be carrying three types of COVID vaccines this year, which is in high demand.

"We have a high demand of COVID vaccine, which is awesome," she said. "So we're doing a lot of COVID vaccines. Also, I provide Pfizer, and this year I have Moderna and the Novavax, which I think is real important to get out there because the Novavax, a lot of people want, people with long COVID. So I'm carrying all three vaccines this year, which I normally only carry the Pfizer."

Public health departments also can help people access other vaccines such as for measles or meningitis when they cannot get them through a pediatrician, she added.

Using the website, people are able to get vaccines even if they are homebound by filling out a form.

All public Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative clinics are free of charge, but registrants are asked to provide insurance information, when available, in order to defray costs. The clinics are open to anyone 6 months of age or older, the age group recommended to receive an annual flu vaccine and the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

"I always encourage everybody to wear a short sleeve shirt because it makes it a heck of a lot easier to get at," Drager said. "And children, we do carry the nasal flu, the live virus of nasal flu for kids that are afraid to get needles."

Registration is highly recommended for the clinics. Walk-ins may be accepted depending on the number of vaccine doses available at each clinic, with preference given to those who are registered.

"It's really important. I'm really encouraging vaccinations for the schools, because not only you know if the kids are vaccinated and the teachers are vaccinated, the schools won't have the flu go wild right through it," Drager said. "And of course, the best way to prevent infections: washing your hands. So don't touch your face, and wash your hands."

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