Hundreds join event for mental health
Wilmington - Sunday dawned bleakly with a dark sky, cold rain and air chilled enough to make breath visible, but spirits were upbeat among more than 500 people who braved the day to support mental health awareness.
They turned out at Wilmington's Riverfront for the 13th annual E-Racing the Blues for Mental Health, an event that benefits the Mental Health Association in Delaware.
With the weather serving as a grim reminder of winter's approach, the association's Executive Director Jim Lafferty said mental health issues can creep up upon anyone, especially as days grow shorter and holidays bring high expectations and pressures from financial to familial.
But there is nothing to be ashamed of, Lafferty said, saying there is a need for greater awareness about many kinds of such issues, from mothers' depression that can follow a baby's birth to the problems that lead to self-medication with painkillers or heroin — even those ending in public shootings or drug-related gunfire fueled by demands fed by widespread addiction.
"Untreated mental illness tends to lead to self-medication to do away with those feelings," he said. And sometimes, he said, addiction begins with prescription medication, "then they go to the street because heroin is much cheaper."
"We really do need to do more," Lafferty said, adding that recent school shootings are focusing attention on the mental health issue.
But he also noted such incidents are rare, because "someone with a mental health issue is far more likely to hurt himself or herself than someone else."
At many information tables — where freebies ran from stress-buster flying discs to pens with calendars in their shafts — the overall message was to get the facts, learn about the resources and help each other.
At the "atTAck addiction" table, volunteer Liz Waters said the most difficult stigma to overcome may be that people think anyone with a mental health issue has to be a "low-life crazy."
Addiction is a disease no one would choose, she said, dding, "we're trying to get the message out one person at a time."
With many sponsors including The News Journal Media Group, the fundraiser featured 5- and 10-kilometer competitive runs, a competitive 5-kilometer walk and a 5-K recreational walk.
Briana Weigand of Pike Creek, who was first across the finish line in the 10-K run, called the run "awesome and for a great cause."
Weigand, an assessment counselor at the Rockford Center, urged anyone feeling ill at ease should "not be ashamed to talk to somebody."
With mental health concerns, she said, "the worst thing is to keep it inside." But she added, "people don't want to admit they're having trouble."
Neil Gottleib of Garnett Valley, Pennsylvania, next across the finish line, called the event "a great test of fitness" and good warm-up for the Los Angeles Marathon.
"Nothing today is more important than a focus on mental health," Gottleib said, also citing gun violence. "There's a real gap out there today."
The stigma may be easing a little, said Michele Rossi, a therapist at Mid-Atlantic Behavioral Health.
That center's leader, Traci Bolander, who also serves on the board of the new Delaware Center for Health Innovation, said for anyone fighting the blues, "one of the best things is to engage in the positive behaviors that keep you feeling healthy and happy."
Mid-Atlantic, for example, fielded a team of 32 people, including staff and patients, she said.
Doug Smith of Brandywine Hundred, who works in psychiatric services at Christiana Hospital, said that, in addition to seeking help, people can help themselves.
His advice is to "think positive, find someone to talk to and build a support system."
Smith had some special support of his own on Sunday, running with his 13-year-old son, Andrew.
Bill Mason, chief executive officer of the MeadowWood Behavioral Health System, whose preteen daughter Emily attended with him, said shorter days that come with the end of summer can be a problem.
But he said stresses may be even greater after the holidays, when winter is coldest, holiday excitement ends and bills arrive.
If problems arise, he said, mental health is no different than physical health in that the earlier problems are addressed, the better.
"Everybody thinks of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,'" said MeadowWood's assistant administrator, Gary Murphy, referring to the 1975 movie with Jack Nicholson's character leading a revolt in a mental hospital.
That stereotype, however, is outdated, he said, adding that "mental health doesn't discriminate" and people from all walks of life are affected.
The most important thing, Murphy said, is for people to "see they're not alone."
And Sunday's walk not only showed the truth of that, but also raised money for more outreach, referral and services.
Between pledges collected by those joining the walks or runs and generous sponsors who provided grants in addition to food, supplies, advertising and other support, the event aimed to raise about $80,000, Lafferty said.
"All of the money that's raised here today stays in Delaware and we'll use it to support our programs," he said.
By the time the last walkers crossed the finish line, the rained had stopped, clouds were breaking up and the sky was beginning to brighten.
Fundraising continues through the nonprofit group's website www.mhainde.org, United Way of Delaware workplace giving, planned estate gifts and tax-deductible donations, which may be sent to the Mental Health Association in Delaware, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 600, Wilmington, DE 19801-6604.
Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware.