During this year’s NAMIWalks Lake County, OH, people who’ve been touched by mental health issues are invited to gather to share their stories
By Mary Malik
Sharing our stories puts us on the path to improved mental health. That’s one of the principles of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health), the largest grassroots mental health organization in the country. It’s also the theme of NAMIWalks, an event featuring a half-mile and 5K walk, part of an all-day celebration filled with live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, raffles and opportunities to share your own mental health story while surrounded by a supportive community.
“We want to share these experiences because recovery lies in the telling of your story,” NAMI Lake County, OH MH/SUD program coordinator Joanna Mannon, CDCA, says. “We walk beside each other in support and in celebration to break the mental health stigma.”
NAMI has more than 600 locations around the country, all of which have stuck to those grassroots beginnings when, back in 1969 at a kitchen table in Madison, Wisconsin, two mothers of children experiencing schizophrenia were searching for help. NAMI was born out of that connection and has continued to support families ever since.
“Everything we provide at NAMI Lake County, OH is offered through the lens of lived experience,” Joanna says. “Everyone associated with NAMI Lake County, OH has either experienced a mental health condition themselves or has a loved one with a mental health condition.”
NAMI Lake County, OH offers extensive programming providing empathy, support, education and advocacy to help individuals and families find hope, healing and recovery—and they do it all for free.
“We believe everyone who needs help deserves to receive it regardless of finances,” Joanna says. “Our program leaders and support staff are all volunteers, many of whom utilized our services and received so much here that they want to give back.”
Referred to NAMI Lake County, OH by a friend, Lesa and Richard Renshaw took advantage of several programs to help them support a family member dealing with mental health issues.
“All of the NAMI Lake County, OH programs we utilized gave us a better understanding of mental illness, which helped us to better advocate for our family,” Lesa says. “It also changed how we would speak and interact with the individual.”
The Renshaws say NAMI’s Family Peer Support Group gave them increased strength in knowing they are not alone.
“We would highly recommend to anyone going through mental health issues to utilize NAMI’s resources,” Richard says.
NAMIWalks Lake County, OH will celebrate the stories of people who have benefitted from it’s resources and reach out to those who need help.
At NAMIWalks Lake County, OH, the walking path “Storybook Lane” will be lined with signs depicting people’s stories through words and photos.
“We’ll have more than 20 local vendors showcasing arts and crafts and sharing information about community organizations,” Joanna says. “There’s a local artists competition, Mentor canine officers will present a demonstration, and the Safety Zone will feature fire and police vehicles. It’s a real community celebration.”
Since everyone has a story, NAMI Lake County, OH invites walkers to dress as their favorite storybook hero or villain.
“Feel free to express yourself,” Joanna says. “This is a celebration. Let’s have some fun.”
NAMIWalks Lake County, OH takes place on Saturday, October 7, at the Mentor Amphitheater - Civic Center Park, 8600 Munson Rd., in Mentor. For more information or to register your team, join an existing team or participate as a single, call 440-639-1200, check NAMIWalks.org or email Joanna Mannon joanna@namilake.org. NAMI Lake County, OH is located at 1 Victoria Place, Ste. 100 in Painesville. For more information on programming and resources, call 440-639-1200 or check the website NAMILakeCountyOhio.org.