First In-Person NAMIWalks In Two Years To Raise Awareness About Mental Illnesses

The Minnesota Psychological Association is supporting the 16th annual NAMIWalks Minnesota a 5K walk event again this year. We would like you to get involved to give back to our partner and support the community. Participating is as easy as registering and going for a walk somewhere of your choosing on Saturday, September 24 at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis.

NAMIWalks supports the efforts of NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to provide education, support, and advocacy for children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. The event opens at 11:00 a.m. and runs through 3:00 p.m.

11:00 am – Check-in
11:30am – Group photos with sponsors and major walk teams
12:00 pm – Band plays, picnics, photos, and other entertainment activities
12:30 – Speakers
1:00 pm – Walk begins
1:45 pm – Band plays at finish line
3:00 pm – Walk wrap up and breakdown

There will be picnics & food trucks, music, speakers, mental health resource tables, a t-shirt contest, a tree of hope, and more. NAMIWalks is a transformative opportunity in which participants reduce stress, build community, and find local support and services that can make a difference.

Walkers can also join the Walk in their own way to raise awareness in their home communities, with some choosing to bike, run, skate, swim, canoe, post signs, start conversations, or walk, for example. For details, including forming or joining a walk team, go to namiwalks.org/mn or call 651-645-2948.

Mental illnesses affect persons of any age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic status. One in five people is affected by a mental illness in any given year. “The Walk brings people together to raise awareness about mental illnesses, to demonstrate that recovery is possible, and to provide hope,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota.