Family Event Aimed at Reducing the Stigma of Mental Health

EVERETT, Washington. –Substance abuse and suicide rates for youth in Snohomish County are  among the highest in the state. Local  partners began meeting more than a year ago to plan a
resource fair unlike any other in the nation. While treatment and help after the fact will always be needed, raising awareness of the critical role mental health well-being plays in prevention is needed.

Youth of all ages, parents, grandparents, caregivers and community members are invited to the 1st Annual Children & Youth Mental Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at Evergreen Middle School, 7621 Beverly Lane, Everett.

Raffle prizes and free lunch will be provided, along with dozens of workshops and activities throughout the day.

“Mental health has such a huge stigma that we need to work together as a community to overcome,” said Liza Patchen-Short, children’s mental health liaison for Snohomish County Human Services and event manager. “Our goal was to create an event where families and kids could build on the strengths they already have, learn new skills for developing resiliency, and access whatever resources they need to improve mental well-being.”

Highlights of the event include:
– Drop-in workshops with speakers on parenting for all stages, drug abuse and suicide prevention, music therapy, bullying, LGBTQ issues, depression and anxiety, sex trafficking risks and more
– More than 90 vendor/resource tables
– Kindie rocker Caspar Babypants performing at 10 a.m.
Screenings of Disney’s Inside Out at 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., followed by guided discussions for kids on understanding their emotions
Former NFL player turned motivational speaker Trent Shelton at 1:00 p.m. to energize youth on how “change starts with you”

– Free pizza, games, crafts and family photos
– Puget Sound’s renowned Bubbleman at 3 p.m.

The free event is hosted by Snohomish County Human Services in partnership with the Snohomish Health District, Snohomish County affiliate of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Everett Housing Authority, The Everett Clinic, and Rotary Club of Alderwood-Terrace. Generous contributions were also made by Coordinated Care, Everett Transit, Providence Institute, and Tulalip Tribes.

For a detailed schedule of events and list of vendors, visit http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/3608/Children-Youth-Mental-Wellness-Fair

Information provided by Heather Thomas via Snohomish County