Mental Health Awareness Walk May 19

Coeur d'Alene Press April 29, 2023

The Disability Action Center Northwest will bring people together for a Mental Health Awareness Walk to bring the community closer to people with mental health challenges at 11 a.m. May 19, starting at the Department of Labor, 600 North Thornton St., Post Falls.

The crowd, with at least 54 people registered so far, will walk a small loop before returning to the DOL for refreshments, cake and stories from people who suffer from mental health challenges, either themselves or as a family supporter.

Police from Spirit Lake will attend to show support and gain insight into what people with a mental illness can go through, along with other businesses and community members. The vision for the walk is to share insight into how difficult it can be to have a mental illness, but to also outline how mental health challenges don’t have to define people.

“We want to stop the stigma,” said Sherri Boelter, the independent living advocate for DAC.

The DAC event is supported by sponsors from the community, including the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Suicide Prevention Action Network, Harmony House, Kootenai Behavioral Health and Inspired by You to provide things like the t-shirts for anyone who registered early, or the cake and refreshments.

Anyone in the community is invited to come, whether they experience mental illness, through first-hand or support levels or if they just want to come to hear from the speakers and learn more about people who have a mental illness.