Why Fifty2?

According to Mental Health America, over 52 million people face mental health challenges every year, and only half of them receive professional support.

We challenge ourselves and our community to walk, run, or hike 52 miles in the month of October to raise awareness about the support available in our region while we end the stigma that can make living with mental health conditions more difficult.

Our mental and physical health are deeply connected, and regular exercise has been proven to ease stress that may lead to depression and anxiety. Setting goals that are new and challenging, but achievable, can be vital tool for improving mental health. They can also provide a launching point for acquiring healthy new habits.

Fifty2 End Stigma offers structure and purpose, with opportunity for growth and an inspiring sense of accomplishment upon completion. The rewards multiply when you invite others to join you, showing up for one another throughout the journey, and sharing conversations, achievements, and time together.

 

Choose Empowerment

We face a growing mental health crisis in our country and our region. We invite you to take on this challenge because we believe that as a community we can overcome stigma, transforming negative attitudes towards mental health into broad regional support and increased access to care. By working together and talking freely about these issues, we can advocate for policies that reduce institutional discrimination against people facing mental health challenges.

Everyone has the right to thrive, and this October, we prove it through action.

Family Services supports everyone's right to thrive.

Founded in 1879, Family Services brings people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and building a stronger, safer Hudson Valley. Across our program areas of Behavioral Health, Victim Services, Family Support Services, Youth Services, Community Safety, Prevention, and the Family Partnership Center, we are committed to ensuring individuals and families in Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange counties have access to services, opportunity, and, most of all, hope. 

From counseling for survivors of domestic violence and gun violence to outpatient therapy, we are intimately connected to the mental health needs of our clients and our community more broadly. We work diligently to end the stigma against seeking professional help and provide accessible, affordable services to remove barriers to healing. Our approach is trauma-informed and evidence-based, meaning we engage and collaborate with our community to enhance the quality of our services and promote social change. Last year, our agency served nearly 17,000 children, adults, and families, while our Family Partnership Center, home to over 20 human services agencies and health organizations, offered vital resources such as nourishing food, legal aid, primary health care, and youth programs to many more.

In supporting everyone's right to thrive, we seek to enrich not just the lives of the individuals we currently serve, but those of everyone in the mid-Hudson Valley region.

Learn more about Family Services today.