Home     News     Services     Online Services     Forms     Departments     Links     Search     Contacts

VISIT LANE COUNTY ONLINE AT

HTTP://WWW.LANECOUNTY.ORG/NEWS/

For current news and archives

For Immediate Release 05/16/08

Youth to Raise Mental Health Awareness

Contact: Martin Rafferty, Youth Advocacy Coordinator, (541) 606-1514

This Saturday you may notice a collective of youth gathered downtown.

They’ll be performing skits for you, and later the world as they raise awareness of mental health and try to break stigmas. The skits will be recorded and later broadcast on YouTube.

"The event is to give youth room to use their voice regarding mental health," said Martin Rafferty, program coordinator for Lane County Children and Families.

The street theater -- called "The Norm-a-thon" -- is organized by the nonprofit coalition MindFreedom International as part of an international "Mad Pride" movement that encourages everyone to explore their "creative maladjustment." It's a unique way to celebrate May, which is considered "Mental Health Month".

MindFreedom is partnered with Oregon Family Support Network and the Lane County Department of Children and Families. The Youth Action Board will be represented at this event. 

What: A peaceful protest prank to be broadcast globally on the Web via YouTube

When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday (tomorrow), May 17 (Gathering begins at 3 p.m.)

Where: Ken Kesey statue at Broadway & Willamette, in Eugene.

Who: You! Come as you are or bring props, signs and costumes.

###

Amber Fossen
Public Information Officer
Lane County Government
125 E. Eighth Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682.3718
(541) 359.9143 (cell)

lane county:
working
^{for you}

^{Lane County Government provides for the safety and security of Lane County’s 343,000 citizens through public safety, public works, human services, elections, vital records and other systems}