Students and locals alike dedicated their Saturday morning to raising mental health awareness.
The 12th annual Walk the Walk — organized by the Athens’ branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and The Gathering Place — featured a rally at the Athens Courthouse followed by a nature walk through campus and The Ridges.
“The objective of the walk is to definitely learn. We all should know about (mental awareness), and it’s important to this community,” said Leah Adams, a sophomore studying child and family studies and a volunteer with the alliance.
The event featured speeches by Ohio Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-92nd and Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, as well as speeches from organizers of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and The Gathering Place.
“This is what I love about (the walk),” Wiehl said, applauding those who showed up. “We’re all here, we’re all participating.”
Phillips also chose to highlight on the coming together of Athens community.
“Mental illness can be a frightening experience,” Phillips said. “Just by being here and creating that sense of solidarity is important.”
Solidarity was the message of the day while participants bonded over the three-mile hike and shared their own stories through posters and conversation. The goal of the walk was to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
It was a coming together of different members of Ohio University and the City of Athens who believed in the importance of not only supporting those with mental illness, but erasing stereotypes and misconceptions as well.
One of the organizers of the event, Athens’ branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a part of a national grass roots organization that is dedicated to spreading mental health awareness.
The Athens branch was established in 1987 as a “nonprofit organization to advocate for and promote recovery of people with mental illness”, according to their website.
The Gathering Place opened in 1976 for those personally affected by mental illness. It is a community based agency that provides direct services for those who need it and promotes their recovery.
The organization also supports the involvement of the Athens community in helping those with mental illnesses.
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