Community Stomps Out Stigma at 5K Walk for Mental Wellness

By Marino Communications

The Mental Wellness Center kicked off Mental Health Month in May with its 6^th Annual 5K Walk for Mental Wellness on Friday, May 5^th. 250 community members came together at East Beach joining the nonprofit’s efforts to change the perception of mental health by “stomping out stigma” at the annual Sunset Beach Walk.

“Taking care of our mental well-being is important for all of us, no matter what stage we are in our lives, and a long walk along the beach with our wonderful community is a great way to do just that,” said Annmarie Cameron, CEO of the Mental Wellness Center. “For 70 years, the Mental Wellness Center has been invested in building a community of wellness and helping people better understand mental illness. Our 5K Sunset Beach Walk aims to bring people together in an effort to combat the stigma which too often prevents those who are living with mental health conditions from seeking necessary treatment.”

This year, the Mental Wellness Center teamed up with the San Marcos High School Wellness Connection and the SBCC Wellness Connection to co-host the 5K Walk. In February, the organizations announced a partnership to bolster local support and peer mentoring among students and further promote student health and wellness education on high school campuses.

In honor of the event, Mayor Pro Tempore Jason Dominguez presented a proclamation naming May 5^th as Mental Health Day in Santa Barbara.

Participants came together after the Walk for dinner, a raffle, and live music featuring Upstream, a reggae and Caribbean music band.

The event raised $20,000 for the Mental Wellness Center, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, education and direct services to individuals and families in Santa Barbara affected by mental illness.

For more information, please visit www.MentalWellnessCenter.org.