Locals took action for Mental Health Awareness Month by gathering a walkout and rally

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and on May 16 the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) hosted a Take Action for Mental Health Walk. The walk started from the Hope Center Garden in Eureka and went towards H Street to the Eureka Courthouse where community members gathered for a rally.

“We’re going to walk as a unit through the community so that people can be aware that we are acknowledging that this issue exists in our community and that we’re here to do something about it,” said Stacey Farmer, a Peer Coach with the Transition-Age Youth Program (TAY). “And to show that there [are] other people struggling with the same issues and people are not alone.”

There were about 20-plus people at the Hope Center Garden to take action to spread mental health awareness. People wore green to represent their advocacy for mental health awareness.

“I’m here actually to support a friend,” said community member Lex Valtenbergs. “I myself am a neurodivergent person I struggle with mental health and I’m also passionate about mental health awareness and autism awareness.”

For more information about local mental health services go to https://humboldtgov.org/.