HUMBOLDT — Community members will have the opportunity to take a visible stand against the stigma of mental health needs during a Smash the Stigma event Friday at Humboldt Speedway.
The event is a partnership between Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center (SEKMHC), Zero Reasons Why Allen County and Humboldt Speedway.
Participants will be invited to write stigmatizing words, labels and negative messages associated with mental health struggles on a vehicle before symbolically destroying them with sledgehammers, bats and other tools.
Jen Taylor, grant and program coordinator for SEKMHC, noted that the event could not be possible without the generous donation of cars by Kyleigh Harper and Cody Weast.
Taylor noted all the glass has been removed from the vehicles.
Harper serves as the club sponsor for Iola’s Zero Reasons Why chapter, Mustangs for Mental Health, in addition to being the high school secretary.
Travis Buck, Children’s Case Manager and Peer Mentor Lead at SEKMHC, said the activity is designed to challenge misconceptions surrounding mental health.
“Like the name says, our goal is to smash the stigma of negative thoughts towards mental health,” Buck said.
Mental health challenges often go unseen, making community understanding and awareness especially important.
Smash the Stigma is intended to encourage awareness, education and open conversations about mental health while reminding people that support is available to those who may be struggling.
ACCORDING TO Buck, “There are a million different stigmatizing things out there, like ‘I can’t do this,’ ‘I’m not strong enough,’ ‘I’m weak.’”
Buck said the activity is intended to be a literal representation of the event’s message. “They will literally be smashing the stigma of mental health,” he said.
The goal is to remind youth that negative labels do not define who they are and that they have the support of their community.
Buck said the event is also intended to foster broader conversations about mental wellness and encourage those who may be struggling to seek support.
“Our goal is not only to reduce the stigma of mental health, but also to build community support,” he said. “We want it to get to where mental health is not as taboo as it once was.”
He added that the event is intended to remind residents that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health. Buck also believes community-wide participation can help people understand they are not alone.
