'Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge' Sgt. Kevin Briggs Advocates for Suicide Prevention May 31st

SAN FRANCISCO - May 22, 2014 - PRLog -- WHO:          The 10^th Annual 5K NAMIWalk San Francisco Bay Area in Golden Gate Park directly benefits nine participating National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliates in Alameda County, Alameda County South, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Solano Counties.  NAMI is the largest national grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.  Opening Ceremony Speaker is retired California Highway Patrol (CHP) Sargent Kevin Briggs. During his 20-year career, Sgt. Briggs helped to save over 200 people from committing suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.

WHAT:          10^th Annual NAMIWalk San Francisco Bay Area Fundraiser

WHEN:         Saturday, May 31, 2014 - 8:30 AM (Check-in/On-site Registration); 10:30 AM (Opening Ceremony); 11:00 AM (Walk Start); Post-Walk to 2:00 PM (Live music, info and food booths. Picnic lunches and dogs on leashes are okay.)

WHERE:      Golden Gate Park Lindley Meadow (next to Speedway Meadow)  30^th Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, CA  94121

COST:         FREE to NAMIWalkers (thanks to sponsors and donors)

REGISTER:    Pre-Register at www.NAMIWalkSFBay.org, or call (800) 556-2401.

WHY:          Thousands of families, volunteers, community groups, corporate employees, medical personnel, Veterans and people living with mental illness from across the Bay Area will join over 80 communities holding walks across the nation during May – National Mental Health Month, established in 1949.  In 2013, the walk raised over $470,000, with the proceeds shared among the eight affiliates participating last year to help underwrite the free NAMI mental health programs most needed in their area.  Programs include: Family to Family, a multi-week support and education course for family members of people living with mental illness, In Our Own Voice, an anti-stigma speakers’ bureau, Parents and Teachers as Allies, an in-service program helping school professionals understand the early warning signs of mental illnesses in children, Multi-Cultural Agency partnerships with classes and education materials in Spanish and Chinese.  Increasingly important are NAMI support services for Veterans and active duty personnel including the national Veterans and Military Personnel Resource Center at NAMI.org and local support groups for family members of service personnel dealing with mental health issues. On a national level, NAMI advocates politically for improved public policies addressing the needs of those with mental illness and their families.  For more information, go to www.NAMIWalksSFBay.org, or email info@NAMIWalkSFBay.org.

INTERVIEWS: Available by arrangement and at the walk on May 31^st.