Mental health nonprofit NAMI Nevada to host walks in Carson City, statewide to raise mental health awareness
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 09/18/2023 - 3:53pm
Event Date:
October 7, 2023 - 10:00am
NAMI Nevada, the Nevada branch of the National Alliance for Mental Health is hosting benefit walks across Nevada on Oct. 7 in Carson City, Reno, Elko and Las Vegas to broaden awareness during October, Mental Health Awareness Month.
The walks will also serve as a fundraiser for the nonprofit’s work of garnering and routing resources to Nevadans seeking to improve their mental health. NAMIWalks Nevada events are free, but those registered participants who raise $100 on behalf of the nonprofit will earn an official NAMIWalks 2023 event t-shirt.
“As the country faces a very real mental health crisis, we’re working hard to invite participants from around the state to walk with us on Oct. 7 in support of better mental health outcomes for our friends and our families,” said Robin Reedy, executive director of NAMI Nevada. “The shortage of mental health providers is pronounced in the state, but there are multiple resources an individual can investigate using, and NAMI Nevada chapters want to encourage anyone who feels they’re struggling to learn more about the many resources they can leverage.”
NAMI Nevada will orchestrate the NAMIWalks Nevada event on behalf of Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. NAMI Western Nevada, which represents Carson City, Douglas County and rural counties, will orchestrate the NAMIWalks Nevada event for Carson City and NAMI Southern Nevada, which represents Clark County will orchestrate the NAMIWalks Nevada event for Las Vegas.
The walks enable the nonprofit to continue providing support groups, education classes, presentations and training at no cost to their respective communities. Check in for the walks begins at 9:30 a.m. and walks will begin at 10 a.m. The walks will take place:
- In Carson City at Fuji Park 601 Old Clear Creek Road.
- In Reno at the University of Reno, Nevada at the UNR Knowledge Center lawn, 1664 N. Virginia Street.
- In Las Vegas at Lorenzi Park 3333 W. Washington Avenue
- In Elko at the Elko County Fairgrounds, 13 Fairgrounds Road
According to statistics curated by NAMI, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness and one in six youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder each year. In Nevada, access to providers seems to be a continuing challenge. In a ranking of the states regarding access to care and prevalence of mental illness, Mental Health America scores Nevada as 51 in the country for youth. The state is scored as number 40 in the country for adults.
“It’s clear that mental health in this state needs to remain a top priority, especially as there have been alarming increases in self-harm and suicide,” said Reedy. “By rallying supporters in these cities, we hope to remind individuals they have options for better managing their mental health."
In August, the Centers for Diseases Prevention and Control (CDC) announced that the suicide rate in 2022 was 5% higher than the previous year, and a record year for suicides in the country. The CDC also lists suicide as the ninth leading cause of death for Nevadans amid a shortage of mental healthcare professionals faced by the state.
Organizers are asking participants to practice sun safety while dressing properly for the elements. Food and drink will be provided at the respective locations for walk participants. Those interested in walking to support NAMI efforts can sign up for the NAMI Nevada walk of their choice by visiting
www.namiwalks.org/nevada.
To learn more about NAMI Nevada, visit https://naminevada.org/.
About NAMI NEVADA:
NAMI Nevada provides free education courses and free support groups for family members and individuals living with mental illness. NAMI Nevada works to offer education, support and advocacy that will improve the quality of life for persons affected by mental illness.
Since 1979, the NAMI Nevada organization has been advocating for non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare, housing, education and employment for people with mental illnesses. They educate both the public regarding the realities of mental illness and those with mental illness on the options they have available to them as citizens.
Through the development of affiliate chapters who can more pointedly address populations, the organization addresses the needs of the membership as they arise while also providing pre-emptive education and resources to help individuals cope with mental illness.
