NAMIWalks for the Mind of America & the GLBT Community

NAMIWalks for the Mind of America is the nation's leading 5K-walk to promote better public awareness of mental illness, fight stigma, and raise funds for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMIWalks Minnesota will be held at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 26 at 1:00 p.m. Over 100 walk teams and 2,000 people from across the state are expected to participate. NAMI provides educational classes, support groups and resource information, and advocates for better mental health services.

Mental illness affects persons of any age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic status. One in five adults and one in ten children live with a mental illness. The Walk brings people together to raise awareness that mental illnesses are treatable medical conditions, and that there is help and hope for children and adults with mental illness and their families, said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota.

Some studies have shown that GLBT people are 2.5 times more likely than straight people to experience mental illness. In particular, GLBT adults are more likely to report depression, panic and anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. GLBT youth are especially at risk, being 20-40% more likely than their straight peers to attempt suicide, and more likely to experience anxiety and depression. Being a GLBT person of color, or having a disability or living in poverty, means facing multiple levels of discrimination. In addition, people who both identify as GLBT and live with a mental illness face double stigma; being unable to open up in treatment or support group settings negatively impacts the therapeutic experience and recovery.

The Rainbow Health Initiative is sponsoring a GLBT team for NAMIWalks this year. Anyone interested can sign up online for the Rainbow Walkers team; for information contact Roxanne at 651-645-2948, ext.114.  You can also start your own team, or join any team.

Nearly 100,000 individual walkers and supporters participated in NAMIWalks in 74 cities across America last year, and even more are expected to join in this year's walks. Go to www.namihelps.org and click on the NAMIWalks logo, or call 1-888-NAMI-HELPS to walk with us, captain a team, volunteer, or give a donation.