To recognize Mental Health Awareness Month and National Prevention Week, The Norwalk Partnership, Norwalk ACTS, and NCC are hosting “NorWALK for Mental Health” along with a “Check-In” Wellness Fair featuring speakers, prizes, music, and more. This is an important event we hope you will share and attend.

Here are the many offerings they are planning:

• Mental health booths where you can practice coping skills, “paint your art out,” get a “check-up from the neck up,” and meet friendly people who can answer your mental health questions.

• Prevention booths where you can experience the risks of impaired driving, pick up Liquor Stickers or Narcan, learn about suicide prevention, and get parenting resources.

• People of all ages share their personal mental health journeys.

• A press conference with local elected officials.

• A 1.5-mile walk to create visibility and join together for the cause.

• The state’s “Change the Script” behavioral health resource van.

• Music, art, door prizes, laughter, yoga, drumming, and tie-dye!

An estimated 49.5 percent of adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. The good news is that promoting positive mental health can prevent some problems. For young people who do have mental health disorders, early intervention and treatment can help lessen the impact on their lives.

Presently, H.B. 5001 and S.B. 2, are two bills currently awaiting votes in the Connecticut General Assembly. These bills address the growing mental health needs of Connecticut’s youth. From instituting universal pre-K in S.B. 2 to improving the availability of mental health resources to children and teenagers in H.B. 5001, these two bills would demonstrate a newfound and welcome prioritization of youth mental health.

Questions about the NorWALK for Mental Health & Wellness Fair? Contact Wendy Mendes at Wmendes@norwalk.edu.

Also, Margaret Watt, MPH, MA (she/her), Prevention Director, TurningPointCT Project Director, Co-Chair, The Norwalk Partnership & Westport Prevention Coalition, Positive Directions - The Center for Prevention and Counseling at mwatt@positivedirections.org, www.positivedirections.org.

In a behavioral health crisis, dial 2-1-1, option 1 to access CT's regional mobile crisis response team, or call your local first responders at 911. If you are in emotional distress, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 anytime. Positive Directions hosts the TurningPointCT.org project: online resources & support for mental wellness, created by and for young people in CT. They also serve as fiduciary & coordinator for The Norwalk Partnership and the Westport Prevention Coalition, local coalitions dedicated to preventing substance misuse in their community. Like & follow them @positivedirections @turningpointct!