Join San Diego Residents for NAMI Walks and Mental Wellness Expo, Combating Stigma and Raising Awareness about Mental Health

This Saturday, April 27, 2024, San Diego residents are encouraged to join the annual San Diego NAMI Walks and Mental Wellness Expo. The event, with the theme “I am NAMIWALKS,” is organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness in partnership with the County’s Health and Human Services Agency to kick off Mental Health Matters Month in May.

Community members are invited to participate in raising awareness about mental health, combating the stigma associated with mental health topics, and showing support for one another. Dr. Luke Bergmann, Director of County Behavioral Health Services, emphasized the importance of taking care of emotional well-being every day and how this event provides a platform for communities to come together.

The day starts with a free community walk around Preble Field in NTC Park at Liberty Station at 8:15 a.m., followed by the Mental Wellness Expo from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., featuring over 100 exhibitor booths offering resources for families, children, military members, and veterans. There will also be hands-on activities to improve mental health such as an affirmation potting station, stigma busting photo booth, Naloxone distribution, face painting, children’s activity booths and Tai-Chi demonstrations.

Interested participants can register for the NAMIWalks and Mental Wellness Expo on the event website. If you or someone you know is facing a mental health challenge, the Access and Crisis Line at 1-888-724-7240 is available for assistance. Additional resources can be found on the County BHS Resources webpage and It’s Up to Us SD website which also lists other activities taking place during Mental Health Matters Month.

Join us this Saturday for an opportunity to learn more about mental health challenges that affect so many people in our community and how we can work together to create a more compassionate society where everyone has access to support when they need it most!