A sea of blue wound its way through the streets of Price Tuesday afternoon as the Hope Squad of Carbon and Emery Counties as well as the area’s New Heights Clubhouse hosted this year’s Mental Health Awareness Walk to increase both awareness and support for mental illness.
The group gathered first at the Price City Peace Gardens where community leaders spoke to the group and all were given a free shirt compliments of the Hope Squad.
Karen Dolan, CEO of Four Corners Community Behavioral Health, opened the meeting by sharing a brief history of mental health awareness month. According to Dolan, May was given the title in 1949.
She then related the story of one of her relatives who lived before such a time and suffered greatly because of it, being institutionalized for severe depression and living there alone until her eventual passing.
“You’re struggle is part of your story,” she shared with those in attendance. “Your mental illness doesn’t define you.”
Price City Mayor Joe Piccolo then took the opportunity to speak to those gathered, offering three pieces of advice to leave an effect on the mental health of the community.
Mayor Piccolo urged participants to reach out to members of the community outside their immediate spheres, to find and work and something they love to do and to always remember to love those around them.
“Don’t forget the capacity to love,” he shared, “don’t let that door go closed.”
Those in the walk then worked their way from the Peace Gardens up 100 West and across other streets in town before ending at Washington Park for a luncheon.
