The Western Tidewater Community Services Board will hold its annual Walk for Recovery on Sept. 26.

The walk is the local community services board’s way of commemorating National Recovery Month, Clinical Supervisor Dayna Bandy said.

“It’s to celebrate those who are suffering from mental health and substance abuse, just reminding the community we are a resource, and it’s also a time to shed light on those who have been successful and are still actively in recovery,” Bandy said.

This year’s theme for National Recovery Month is “Join the Voices for Recovery — Visible, Vocal and Valuable,” Bandy said. The walk serves to make the mental health community more visible and vocal and remind clients they are valuable.

Participants will walk from the community services board’s South Saratoga Street location to Constant’s Wharf, where a variety of activities and resource information are planned.

“The walk lets them know there’s resources available,” Bandy said. “It shows them that they have a voice.”

Bandy said “recovery” often carries the connotation of recovery from substance abuse, but mental health and suicide prevention also are part of the event.

The event puts a personal face on the topics of substance abuse and mental health, Bandy added.

“There are a lot of people that feel, ‘It’s not in my family,’” Bandy said. “They have specific stereotypes as to what a mental health person looks like. We’re everyday people.”

At Constant’s Wharf, information on community resources will be offered, and police and fire representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

Diabetes and blood pressure screenings will be available. “A lot of folks that suffer with mental health and substance abuse have medical issues as well,” Bandy said.

Children’s activities will also be an important part of the event, showing families that caring for children does not have to be a barrier to recovery.

“It inspires others to join and actually start their road to recovery,” Bandy said.

The walk will begin at 135 S. Saratoga St. at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 26. Lunch, live music and celebration, as well as the health screenings and community resources Bandy mentioned, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Constant’s Wharf. Call 942-1971 for more information.