Suffolk agency plans Butterfly Walk

Published 6:52 pm Saturday, June 3, 2017

A walk to bring attention to mental health will take place on June 15.

The Butterfly Walk for Trauma and Mental Health Awareness will begin and end at JAKAFI Behavioral Care Center, 495 Carolina Road.

Jennifer Kinzie, a mental health counselor at JAKAFI, said the walk will begin at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., an open house for anyone interested in mental health services will be available.

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“The walk is for anyone in the community who wants to walk for mental health,” Kinzie said. “If people want to wear shirts that represent a person they’ve lost, we’re encouraging people to express themselves in ways that are connected to mental health.”

Kinzie said the walk will be about two miles. It will go through downtown, loop around and come back to the office.

There is an option on site for people with disabilities, Kinzie said.

Kinzie is passionate about mental health.

“I lost my father to suicide and have gone through my own traumas myself,” she said. “Trauma, mental health, things of that nature, are things we are obviously passionate about or we wouldn’t be opening an agency in this field.”

Kinzie specializes in working with people who have undergone trauma, particularly those who have been to war or experienced sexual trauma.

“Anyplace I work, I want to have someone that commemorates people who are struggling with these challenges,” Kinzie said.

Kinzie said JAKAFI is hoping for at least 100 people to visit the event. There will be drawings for prizes, and snacks, water and more available.

“We plan it to be an annual walk,” Kinzie said.

Call 539-1656 for more information.