Canadian Mental Health Association Fort Frances 2019 glow walk

This is Mental Illness Awareness Week.

It is a national public education campaign that aims to engage Canadians in a national conversation about mental illness and provide insight into the services and supports available.

The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Fort Frances Branch is recognizing the week with its annual Steps Against Stigma Glow Walk.

Director of Services Pauline Hyatt says it takes place at the Sorting Gap Marina at 7 p.m. tonight.

“Registration is a minimum donation of $10. This year you can register online. There is still time to do that at fortfrances.cmha.ca or in person at our Scott Street or Portage Avenue offices. Late registration is accepted at 6:30 p.m. at the Marina. We’re so excited. We have so many prizes for different best glow categories, and we have this year a door prize of a $600 necklace,” says Hyatt.

This is the seventh year of the event.

It didn’t take place the last two years because of the pandemic.

If you don’t have glow sticks to wear, Hyatt says they will be available at the walk.

“We’re going to have a table set up where we will give out glow sticks, glow necklaces, those kinds of things, but you can certainly come with your own because that’s part of the prizes is for best glow, and we even have a glow pet category,” notes Hyatt.

Hyatt says they will also have displays to help dispel some of the myths around mental illness.

There will also be handouts available that highlight services available locally.

“I think it’ll be a wonderful event, and we really need to remember there is no health without mental health.”