The Friendship Circle’s The Beacon Opens in Squirrel Hill

​The Friendship Circle held an open house on May 16 for The Beacon, the new teen wellness and community space with a focus on uplifting and supporting the well-being and mental health of all teens in the Pittsburgh area.

In September 2021, JHF approved a two-year, $100,000 grant to The Friendship Circle in support of the creation of The Beacon as a drop-in community space where teens can access stigma-free wellness support and connection with peers.

Located at 1926 Murray Ave., The Beacon is a 2,000 square foot, fully accessible space offering inclusive and free group programming on mindfulness, self-expression through the creative arts, developing self-advocacy skills, finding purpose, setting boundaries, handling anxiety and depression, and more. When necessary, The Beacon will provide access and referrals to therapeutic support on an individualized basis.

"The opening of The Beacon could not come at a more opportune time to increase support for the youth in our community," said Karen Wolk Feinstein. "The teen mental health crisis continues to demand more resources, and The Beacon immediately addresses the need for accessible, community-based support. It is the fulfilment of a dream to see a drop-in community space for teens and I hope it will become a model for other areas of our city."

The Beacon was inspired by Headspace, a youth mental health model in Australia that sparked the interest of Karen Feinstein, Deb Caplan and Nancy Zionts on the Foundation's 2018 Australian study tour. During that trip, tour participants were very impressed that the Australian government supports over 100 Headspace drop-in centers (now over 150) for teens seeking immediate counseling or support in a friendly setting. Australia's extraordinary commitment to investing in its youth inspired JHF to create a similar space in Pittsburgh, maybe seeding a movement.

The recent advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy underlines why youth mental health initiatives like The Beacon are more important than ever. Dr. Murthy urged community organizations to address the mental health needs of young people.

Starting in September 2023, The Beacon will function during after-school and evening hours Monday through Thursday. Over the summer, The Beacon will host several events in their new space. More information about The Beacon is available here.

Read more about The Beacon's opening in this Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle article.