Break the Stigma: A Powerful Movement for Mental Health Awareness

MARION, Iowa – The fourth year of the “Strike out the Stigma” event highlighted a crucial topic: mental health awareness. The event took place at Prospect Meadows, where discussions focused less on baseball and more on the importance of mental well-being.

Rylee Lueken has been part of this initiative since it began in 2022. She emphasizes that mental health affects everyone, either directly or indirectly. “Even if it doesn’t touch you, it touches someone you know.”

Mike Farr started this event after tragically losing his son to suicide on September 22, 2017. He turned his grief into action by founding Project Safe. This organization aims to educate the community about suicide awareness and prevention.

Farr notes that the “QPR” (Question, Persuade, Refer) class equips participants with vital skills to recognize signs of distress and know how to respond. “You’ll learn about the proper questions to ask and resources in the community,” he explains.

The Iowa City Liberty baseball team is also closely connected to this cause, having lost teammate Owen Skelley to suicide in 2022. Coach Uby Martinez shared that this event holds special significance for them. “Owen loved baseball. This is what he did,” he said, reflecting on how personal the cause has become.

The team participated in the first event and has returned to deepen their understanding of mental health. “At first, we didn’t know how to handle this,” Martinez admitted. “Now, we’re more prepared to talk to our players, and they feel more open to discuss their feelings.”

What began with four teams has now grown to 16, showing how the community has rallied around this important message. “Seeing 16 teams here and all these kids listening to each other proves that you’re not alone,” Martinez said.

Recent statistics underline the need for such initiatives. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year. Events like “Strike out the Stigma” are crucial to breaking the silence and stigma surrounding these issues, encouraging open conversations.

Athletes are often seen as tough, but knowing how to ask for help is equally important. As this event shows, taking care of your mental health is not just vital – it’s a community effort.

For more insights on mental health awareness and support resources, you can visit the National Institute of Mental Health.

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