PEABODY — Nearly 150 people came together Saturday at the South Memorial School to kick off National Mental Health Awareness Month and raise money to help educate young people about its importance.
“Mental health is often overlooked. Yet each and every one one of us has either had an issue or had a family member or friend have issues,” said Amber Kiricoples, who organized the event with fellow Peabody High senior Aja Alimonte. “If we can normalize mental health, the same way we do for physical health, to eliminate the stigma attached to it, more people will be able to get the help they need. Mental health is just as important as physical, and you just have to be able to take it one day at a time.”
The event included a 5K walk which began at the school and snaked its way across the city to the Higgins Middle School, then returned to the school to continue the festivities. Treadwell’s Ice Cream donated ice cream for all. Also, Champions Pub’s brick-oven pizza food truck donated a portion of its proceeds to the cause. Nearly all of the participants sported black-and-green T-shirts specially designed by Kiricoples and Alimonte bearing the phrase, “You Are Not Alone.”
Peabody High graduates Arjana Makoci and sister Kristina, co-owners of Peabody-based Regulate Yours, a life-coaching and stress management service, helped organize the event.
“I feel this is the first annual walk, as we want to do this every year,” Makoci said. “Half the high school is here today and the event is sold out. I am just so thrilled to help them (Kiricoples and Alimonte) and to see them so excited; today is great.”
Councilor-at-Large Anne Manning Martin said she was walking to “to support these two young women who care so much about this issue.”
“I believe in what they say about the importance of breaking the stigma associated with mental disorders, and both Amber and Aja are great examples of how young people can assume a leadership role in the community and help make a difference,” she said.
High school special education teacher Leo Shidler, his son (and Tanners boys lacrosse coach) Leo Shidler, Jr. and several members of the team pitched in early to help with setup.
“These are serious issues, particularly during these times, and we are seeing more and more of it in the schools,” the elder Shidler said. “Usually schools are always a safe zone for kids, but this past year, they weren’t able to have that safe place. We are seeing more issues and hospitalizations of kids. Like Amber said, the goal is to let these kids know that when you have an issue, you are not a pariah, so they know it’s okay to acknowledge it and get help.”
Andrew Pierce, business development manager at Achieve TMS East, said he saw the event on social media and reached out to participate.
“TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) helps people suffering from Major Depressive Disorder by stimulating the brain using magnetic fields,” he said. “When I saw this event, I knew we needed to be here to let people know that help is out there.”
Kiricoples cautioned attendees not to be fooled by friends who appear outwardly to be happy.
“Many of them — your happy friends, I call them — are not OK. So please don’t think they are OK because they have smiles on their faces,” Kiricoples said. “I know, I’m the type of person who puts on a smile, but sometimes that means nothing. It’s important to check with them every day even if they appear to be happy.
“Today, though, I can say I am happy and cannot believe how well everything is going.”
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
