By the year 2020, depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease. An innovative community event called Step Up for Mental Health aims to change that by making mental health issues easier to talk about. Over 80% of people living with depression aren’t getting the treatment they need, either because they’re embarrassed or don’t know how to get help.
“To me, those statistics are heartbreaking,” said Kathryn Phelan, coordinator of the event. “We want to get people talking about mental health issues, so they’re more likely to get the treatment when they need it.”
Statistics show that everyone in the United States will experience depression at some point in their life, either their own or someone else’s. “When you have a cold, you go to the doctor. Why is it any different with depression or anxiety?” asked Phelan.
The overall goal of Step Up for Mental Health is to reduce stigma and raise awareness of mental health issues. The event also seeks to tie physical health and mental health together. “Sometimes people forget that good physical health helps improve your mental health,” said Phelan. “They go hand in hand.” At the event, participants that climb the 14 flights of stairs at City Hall will receive a free t-shirt at the top.
“A friend of mine told me that 'no one makes t-shirts for depression' and I want Jackson to be the city that does,” said Phelan.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. on the second floor of City Hall, located at 161 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson and continue until 1 p.m. Participants are welcome to drop in at any time. Live music and refreshments will be available, as well as on-site depression screenings and community resources. There is no charge to participate, however, donations are accepted.
Pre-registration for the event is encouraged. Click here to for more info and to register online. The event is sponsored in part by LifeWays Community Health, Allegiance Health and Project SAVE. Click here to download a flyer.
* When you register, we will ask for your preferred t-shirt size in order to help us plan better for this brand new event! However, in order to get one of our awesome Step Up for Mental Health t-shirts, you have to show up and make it to the top on the day of the event. We'll do our best to have a t-shirt for everyone, but we can't make any promises. (Sorry, no holds or deliveries.)
Let's Step Up for Mental Health TOGETHER!