September 23, 2005

5K walk to raise money, awareness of mental-health issues

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the second consecutive year, students in Purdue University's School of Nursing will organize a 5K walk-a-thon to gather funds and bring attention to a variety of mental-health problems millions of young people in this country are facing.

The KySS Across America walk, sponsored by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, will be held from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 16 at Slayter Hill. KySS stands for Keep Your children/yourself Safe and Secure.

Julie Novak, head of the School of Nursing and associate dean for the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences, said the purpose of the walk is to reduce the stigma of mental-health problems and to educate the public on the six main issues that plague children and teens: dysfunctional families, eating disorders, substance abuse, violence, depression and suicide.

"These issues are huge for children today," Novak said. "And it's only in the last 10 to 15 years that we've seriously examined a change in the mental-health problems facing young people. Our goal with the KySS walk is to promote a better awareness of this problem so we as a community – including educators, students and health-care professionals – can help find solutions."

Before the walk, Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will speak, as will Novak and Linda Rohrman, who both serve on the board of the Tippecanoe County Mental Health Association. Last year, Rohrman contributed $100,000 to the School of Nursing for its mental health promotion program, of which the KySS walk is one component.

"The KySS walk is an example of the three pillars of Purdue's strategic plan: discovery, learning and engagement," Novak said. "President Jischke has a strong interest in promoting service learning projects such as this for students, and he recognizes that it is important."

Novak, the national co-director of KySS, said recent events in the United States have brought about an increase in mental-health problems in the young. KySS was initiated in 2001, immediately after 9/11.

"After 9/11, the number of children with mental-health issues increased significantly," she said. "The KySS program was developed in response to the data revealing that one in four children experience psychosocial morbidities. With the war and Hurricane Katrina, we are seeing another upsurge in children and families seeking mental-health services.

"That is why bringing attention to this issue to so critical. Future generations are depending on health-care providers and community leaders to respond with effective interventions and programs that emphasize prevention."

Another component of the KySS walk this year is a mental-health issues education fair, which will take place from 1-4 p.m. The fair and the walk are being organized by the School of Nursing's leadership class, which has about 70 members. The School of Nursing has 604 students enrolled this semester.

"Organizing this event helps students see the importance of becoming aware of mental-health issues in children and families," Novak said. "After being a part of a program like this, our students are more interested in the topic. Our mental-health promotion programs provide a strong foundation for our students as they embark on their careers. They are able to promote mental health, recognize and treat mental-health problems and reduce stigma in their communities."

The walk takes place in many cities across the country. Purdue was the first academic organization to participate.

Last year, 237 walkers participated. About $1,000 was raised, with the proceeds going to Cary Home for Children, Wabash Valley Hospital and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners KySS Foundation.

The Indiana chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the Mental Health Association of Tippecanoe County co-sponsor the walk with the School of Nursing.

Those wishing to register for the walk can download a form . In order to be guaranteed a T-shirt, the registration and the $15 fee must be received by Oct. 6, but those interested in participating can sign up until the walk begins on Oct. 16. Tax-deductible donations for the program can be directed to KySS Campaign, c/o Roxanne Martin, Purdue University School of Nursing, 502 N. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2069.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Julie Novak, (765) 494-6644, novakj@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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