Some University students are looking to fight the stigma associated with mental health illness through a 5K run and walk this weekend.
Monday night at city council Rena Onady, president and founder of Active Minds, and Elizabeth Herring, President of the Undergraduate Psychology Association, invited Bowling Green community members and city officials to join University students and organizations on Sunday, April 10 at 11 a.m. at the Perry Field House for E-Race the Stigma.
The mission of Active Minds is to spread awareness of mental health in general and the stigma that goes along with mental illness.
“We really just want to let everyone know about their options,” Onady said. “I think a lot of people experience this and they go through it alone because they really don’t realize how many people go through this every day.”
The Undergraduate Psychology Association is a professional organization to ready psychology majors and minors for the world after undergraduate graduations, whether that be preparation for graduate school or a career.
“This year we wanted to get a little bit more involved, a little bit more in activism and kind of getting our membership base working with the population they’re interested in helping later in their careers,” Herring said.
The idea for the 5K sprouted last year when the two organizations, along with To Write Lover on Her Arms and the University chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness decided to start an event that would raise awareness for mental health and address the stigma. While trying to think of an event that would appeal to students and be informative, the group came up with a race.
While this is the event’s first year, the organizations plan to make it an annual event.
At the race, different community and University organizations will be set up at tables with information to raise awareness about the stigma, symptoms, treatment and other mental health topics. There will also be fact signs to read throughout the event.
“We definitely wanted to be sure to give back to the community,” Onady said.
To give back, the proceeds from the registration fee will be donated to the top three mental health organizations, voted on by participants. At the beginning of the event, each participant will be given an eraser, which they can use to vote for whichever organization they want the funds to go toward. The top three vote-getting organizations will receive donations.
The registration fee is $15 for a University student, $20 for University faculty and $25 for a participant with no University affiliations. Participants can register the day of the event for a flat $25, cash only. Since the event falls on Sibs and Kids Weekend, one child is permitted free of charge with each registration.
The first 100 participants will receive a free t-shirt, bandana and personal color packet. The race is also similar to a color run, where facilitators will be throwing color on the runners and walkers.
Municipal administrator Lori Tretter also discussed the police uniforms stolen from the dry cleaner over the weekend. She said the Bowling Green Police Division is looking into the theft. BGPD officers have identification, consisting of a large badge with an image of the police station. If citizens are concerned, they should check for this badge or call the station to ask dispatchers if the uniformed officer is legitimate.
