Support for 5K Color Run continues to grow
More than 200 people pre-registered for this year’s 5K Color Walk/Run, which took place this past Saturday on St. Feriole Island. Crawford County, the city police department and other agencies also participated. The run began shortly after 8 a.m. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
By Steve Van Kooten
This past Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at the Firemen’s Association Shelter on St. Feriole Island for the 5th Annual 5K Color Run.
“Every year, we see more and more people here, and that fills our hearts full of joy knowing that we’re all here to be part of this day,” said Lacie Anthony, one of the event organizers.
Participation has grown exponentially from 40 people their first year to more than 250 pre-registered before this year’s event (and that doesn’t count the people who registered that day).
“It just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” said Dawn Adam, Crawford County Department of Public Health. “They’re not just coming down to run. They’re coming together to be able to talk and be together.”
The Color Run is one of several events that recognize September as Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a way to bring people together, to show support and to reduce the stigma around mental illness.
“It’s about not being afraid to come out and talk about mental wellness and to talk about suicide... By pulling the community together, we’re saying, ‘You’re not alone; there is help, and there are resources.’ We are willing to talk about it, so you don’t have to suffer in silence,” said Anthony.
Before the Run/Walk commenced, two speakers, Terri Dilly and Molly Mason, spoke about suicide, mental illness and the effect it has on victims’ loved ones.
“These are words that still stop me in my tracks to this day: you never think it will be you that is affected by suicide,” said Mason. “It’s always a sad story you hear from a friend of a friend or a story you hear on Facebook, but you never imagine it connected to your family. You never prepare yourself to lose your best friend, your role model and your dad to suicide.”
Their stories showed there isn’t a single path that leads to suicide or self-harm. Mental illness, trauma and addiction are just a few of the antecedents that can put a person in crisis.
Dilly added that people who are suffering often have difficulty seeking assistance because their struggles are not visible to other people and they experience guilt or shame.
“Finding someone who understands is hard,” she said. “Oftentimes, they feel like a burden.”
“Today, I beg you to ask for help, reach out to those you love, don’t be afraid to have tough conversations, check on those who have struggled, be the light to someone who is battling their demons in the dark, take the extra second to help those around you and hug your loved ones tight,” said Mason.
Law enforcement
Several community businesses and service providers set up booths to provide refreshments and information. Along with Crawford County Health and Human Services, Crossing Rivers Health, Marine Credit Union, Dunkin’ Donuts, Culver’s and the Prairie du Chien Police Department.
Police officers often have first contact with people experiencing a mental health crisis, and Kyle Teynor, Chief of the Prairie du Chien Police Department, said law enforcement training now prioritizes helping people get access to the services they need to address their needs.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that being mentally ill and having a crisis is not against the law. We are there to get you the resources you need to see the next day and the next month and to be a functioning member of our society.”
The Sheriff’s Office and the Prairie du Chien Police Department save Community Response Forms that inform law enforcement about an individual’s needs, whether it’s mental health, behavioral or diagnoses that may affect their experience dealing with stressful situations.
“We encourage people to take advantage of that service because we only know what we know. The more knowledge we have in our response to that house, we can change our protocols and how we respond to that crisis,” said Teynor.
Resources
Crawford County and the Driftless Region Mental Health Coalition offer CredibleMind, a hub for mental health resources. Visit crawfordcounty.crediblemind.com.
For those who are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or living in crisis or those who know somebody who is struggling, contact 988 24/7 to call, text or chat with trained counselors. Visit www.988lifeline.org/FAQ for more information.
For more information on the Driftless Region Mental Health Coalition, visit www.crawfordcountywi.gov/departments/health/MentalHealthCoalition.Crawford County has numerous other mental health resources, including:
• The Veteran’s Crisis Hotline. Dial 988 and press 1 or text 838255.
• Text HOPELINE to 741741. A 24/7 text line serving anyone in crisis.
• TrevorLifeLine. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 for a 24/7 phone service serving LGBTQ+ youth. The text service is available Monday-Friday, 2-9 p.m.
• The Alzheimer’s Association Helpline. Call 1-800-272-3900.
• The Solstice Warmline. An evening hours non-crisis, non-emergency service for support is available at 608-422-2383.
• Uplift WI Peer Support. Call 534-202-5438 to speak with peers who have had similar experiences from noon to 12 a.m.
Crawford County residents can also seek counseling and other wellness services using the following contacts.
• Crawford County Health and Human Services at 608-326-0248.
• Mayo Clinic in Prairie du Chien at 608-326-0808.
• Gundersen Behavioral Health at 608-326-3380.
• Crossing Rivers Behavioral Health at 608-357-2525.
• Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health at 1-800-400-8923.
• Empower Recovery at 1-800-662-4357.
• Rebecca Miller (Boscobel) at 608-391-2436.
• Ashley Hady (Boscobel) at 608-391-2434.
Support groups in the local area include:
• NAMI Southwest Wisconsin (Boscobel) at 608-485-3211.
• Survivors of Suicide Loss and Support Group. Meets on the third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Crossing Rivers Health. Call 563-329-0560.
• Grief Support Group. Meets on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Crossing Rivers Health.
• Infant Loss Support Group. Meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Crossing Rivers Health.
