Did you know 80-90 percent of people who seek help for a mental health challenge see improvement with their symptoms? It’s true.
What prevents everyone else from seeking treatment? Stigma.
“It’s Up to Us” to break the stigma of mental illness. It can start with one voice: yours.
On Saturday, May 2, lace up your sneakers and join thousands of walkers and runners for the 2015 San Diego County NAMI Walk and Health and Human Services Agency Wellness Expo. The event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to noon at NTC Park in Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, in Point Loma. The walk, which kicks off May Is Mental Health Month, is free and open to the public.
This is the second year the County and local affiliates of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), NAMI San Diego and NAMI North Coastal, have joined efforts to raise awareness about mental illness and reduce the stigma associated with it.
“Mental illness affects one in four adults on any given year and emotional and behavioral challenges affect one in five children,” said Alfredo Aguirre, director of Behavioral Health Services for the County Health and Human Services Agency. “People should not be embarrassed to get help.”
The 2015 San Diego County NAMI Walk and Health and Human Services Agency Wellness Expo will feature a huge resource fair with about 100 booths, as well as an interactive mural project, an art exhibit, therapy dogs, face painting, an obstacle course and entertainment for the entire family.
PHOTOS: NAMI Walk 2015
“It’s important for us to clear misconceptions and increase understanding of mental health disorders, and events like this help to achieve those goals,” said Shannon Jaccard, chief executive officer of NAMI San Diego. “Help is available for children and families and the fear of being rejected and the stigma associated with mental disorders should not keep them from reaching out.”
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. The event supports Live Well San Diego, the County’s vision of healthy, safe and thriving residents and communities.
Individuals experiencing mental health challenges can access services by calling the County’s 24-hour, multi-lingual Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240. Resources are also available at NAMI San Diego or the It’s Up to Us website.
Additional events during May include: the Community Alliance of Healthy Minds Forum on May 9, The Fellowship Center’s Well Recovery 5K Walk on May 16, and the Live Well San Diego 5K Walk at Liberty Station on May 30. For more information, please refer to HHSA’s Behavioral Health Services webpage.
