Rally for Mental Health Fair Set for May 20 at Turley Park
Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/20/2023
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location
Turley Park
Categories
Around 60 percent of adults with a mental health illness don't receive
care. A study of over 90,000 people worldwide found that stigma regarding mental health is one
of the top reasons individuals don’t seek care. NAMI Jackson County, NAMI Southwestern
Illinois and NAMI Illinois are working together raise awareness for Carbondale-area residents,
starting with a Rally for Mental Health Fair May 20.
The fair will take place from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 20 at the Turley Park pavilion in
Carbondale. Children’s activities, information about mental health resources (including
emotional support/therapy animals) and giveaways will be part of the event, as well as a
presentation at 10:30 a.m. of “In Our Own Voices,” in which a person who lives with mental
health challenges will share their story. Tricia Hogan, and her therapy dog, Puzzle, will be
present to answer questions and provide information on therapy/support dogs.
In addition, NAMI Jackson County hosts a monthly Family and Friends Support Group for those
with loved ones experiencing mental health issues. The group meetings are held the second
Tuesday of each month from 7-8 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 700 S. University,
Carbondale. Anyone, including residents of surrounding counties, who would benefit from this
group is welcome to attend.
“We’re dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with mental health challenges
and their families through support, education and advocacy,” said Mary Gray of NAMI Jackson
County. “It takes all of us working together to ensure the well-being of our residents. Please join
us to put mental wellness on the map and to erase the stigma of mental health challenges and
treatment.”
For more information about Saturday’s event, contact NAMI Jackson County at
namijcil@gmail.com. To learn more about NAMI Jackson County and NAMI Southwestern
Illinois, including programs and classes, visit namiillinois.org/nami-jackson-county and
namiswi.org, respectively. NAMI Illinois resources can be found at namiillinois.org.