By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, community members across West Michigan are invited to take action for mental health education and suicide prevention during the 24th Annual Stomp Out Stigma Walk on Saturday, May 16, at the Seward Parking Lot on Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus, 520 Lake Michigan Drive NW.
The event, organized by be nice., is expected to welcome more than 1,000 participants who will gather to raise awareness, encourage open conversations about mental health and support life-saving education programs.
Observed each May, Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a national reminder that mental health is
essential to overall well-being. Stomp Out Stigma provides an opportunity for individuals, families,
workplaces and schools to turn awareness into action through community connection and fundraising.
Registration is free and available online leading up to the event. In-person registration opens on site at 8
a.m. with community resource tables available then followed by a community gathering and short
program at 9:30 a.m. The walk will start immediately after. While participation is free, attendees are
encouraged to fundraise to help expand access to mental health education. Individuals who raise $100 will receive the official 2026 Stomp Out Stigma shirt.
“Mental health impacts every family, workplace and school,” said Christy Buck, CEO and founder of be
nice. “Stomp Out Stigma brings our community together to show that no one has to struggle alone. Every step taken and every dollar raised helps equip individuals with the tools to recognize warning signs and take action when it comes to mental health.”
Funds raised through the walk support mental health education initiatives led by be nice., which teach
individuals how to recognize changes in thoughts, feelings and behaviors, start supportive conversations, challenge stigma and empower people to seek help.
Participants are encouraged to walk in honor of themselves, loved ones or anyone affected by mental
health challenges. Community members may register individually, form teams or donate in support of the cause.
Event Details
When: Saturday, May 16 | Gather/Registration – 8 a.m.
Resource Tables – 8-9:30 a.m.
Program/Walk Starts – 9:30 a.m.
Where: Seward Parking Lot, GVSU Pew Campus. 520 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Cost: Free to participate; fundraising encouraged
Register/Donate: benice.org/walk
About the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan – be nice.
The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan’s signature program, be nice., is an upstream mental
health and suicide prevention program that equips individuals to gain knowledge and have confidence to take action. The four-step action plan—notice, invite, challenge, empower—fosters a culture of awareness and support in schools, workplaces, and communities, encouraging education, early intervention and connection to professional help when changes in mental health occur.
