Walk the Walk for Mental Health

Each of us knows someone who has needed help for a mental disorder. According to the National Mental Health Association, more than 51 million Americans have a mental disorder in a given year, although only about eight million seek treatment. People are worried about stigma and discrimination, and about how to pay for legitimate treatments their insurance will not cover. These are not new obstacles nor the only one facing people who experience mental illness. Several years ago a friend showed me the old cemetery grounds at the former psychiatric hospital in Athens, Ohio. She and some others had been working to beautify the graveyard. New white crosses dotted the field, each with only a number to distinguish the deceased. No names. I felt overwhelmed with many emotions as I reflected on the persons with mental illness who lived and died at that place. What families grieved over the loss of a mother, a father, a son, a daughter? Did shame lead them to fabricate stories about what had become of their loved ones? It is heartbreaking to think of the lost and forgotten lives, and of the lack of understanding of mental illness that has led to untold suffering in families across our nation.
In Washington County we have an opportunity to address this suffering. The Marietta Times and House of Hope, a program for consumers of mental health services, are co-sponsoring "Walk the Walk for Mental Health" on October 12, 2002, in five Washington County communities. This gives us all a chance to stand in support of and solidarity with those individuals and families who live with mental illness. It is an opportunity to demonstrate caring and understanding to our neighbors and friends who have struggled to overcome many obstacles on the road to recovery.
The schedule for the event is as follows: Belpre 8:30 a.m. Registration at the Belpre Volunteer Fire Department, 704 Washington Blvd. 9:00 a.m. Walk a little over 1 mile from the Belpre VFD to Civitan Park Barlow 10:15 a.m. Registration at Barlow Fairgrounds 10:45 a.m. Walk 1 mile at the Fairgrounds tracku Waterford/Beverly 12:00 p.m. Registration at Waterford High School 12:30 p.m. Walk 1 mile from Waterford High School to Dodge Park in Beverly Marietta 2:00 p.m. Registration at the Washington County Courthouse 2:30 p.m. Walk a 1-mile course from the Courthouse back to the Courthouse New Matamoras 4:00 p.m. Registration at Municipal Pool Park, Twp. Road 428, New Matamoras 4:30 p.m. Walk 1 mile from Municipal Pool Park to Ferguson Park On October 12th, we will "walk the walk," instead of just talking the talk about our support. Please join us in any or all of the communities. The first 100 people to register in each town will receive a free hat with the event logo. For more information, please call 374-6990.