LYON COUNTY — A total of 481 students from Lyon County middle and high school attended the very first Youth Mental Health Walk, hosted by the Pennyrile District Health Department.
The Youth Mental Health Walk, hosted April 29 at the Lee S. Jones center in Eddyville, was not only educational, but it also allowed students to step away from the stress of testing, engage in physical activity and focus on their own mental health and well-being one step at a time.
Health Educator Taylor Koerner said that this event was made possible through the State Aid Funding for Emergencies, or SAFE, grant, which supports recovery costs from natural disasters, one of which focuses on mental health.
According to Koerner, the grant gave the Pennyrile District Health Department the opportunity to apply for both Caldwell and Lyon County, funding activities that support mental health and were largely youth-focused.
“That’s how it got started from there,” Koerner said. “They got to do a mental health walk, they got to learn about 988 resources and resources from the sheriff’s office for that as well. We also had some vendors there to give them all sorts of helpful resources for mental health. It was all heavily 988 focused.”
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support for anyone experiencing a suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis. Koerner also said that students were given sno-cones after their walk and allowed time to explore the outdoors in a stress-free environment, which was a nice breakaway from end of the year testing.
According to Koerner, the theme of the walk was “one step at a time,” emphasizing to students that small steps and small strides are all important when it comes to mental health.
“We taught them all about asking for help, going to their teachers and other trusted adults who would be happy to help them and then also throwing in that 988 is always available, free and confidential for them,” Koerner told the Herald Ledger. “It was pretty structured. They started with their walk and the once all of the kids were completing their laps, they went over to the vendors, they had their sno-cones and got to hang out for a while before they loaded back up onto the buses.”
Students received 988 T-shirts with crisis hotlines listed on the back. The shirts were purposely green, since May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Students were provided with backpacks filled with a variety of items, such as notebooks, flying discs, a stress ball and information about 988 resources.
With mental health, Koerner said part of the battle is defeating negative stigmas, which is also a priority.
“I think it’s very vital and important to start that at a young age. That way they don’t grow up thinking that it is shameful to talk about, because it’s really not,” Koerner said. “I think it is very important that at a young age, they should be aware of the resources and help that is there. They shouldn’t feel shameful or afraid to ask, either.”
At the walk’s end, students received “be kind” bracelets for signing a pledge stating that they would not bully. Students then entered a drawing to receive an Eddyville City seasonal pool pass, to which Koerner said was kindly donated by Eddyville Mayor Greg Greene.
Overall, Koerner said that the event was well-received, saying that the students enjoyed themselves and were all excited to attend. The next event will be held from 1-2 p.m. on May 15 at the track in Caldwell County.