Mental health fair set for May 4 at Neville Public Museum. Here's what you need to know

GREEN BAY – When it comes to struggling with mental illness, Lola Skenandore knows the healing power of “speaking your truth out loud.”

A survivor of multiple suicide attempts, Skenandore owes her life to the friends and family who cared enough to remind her that even her grimmest feelings would pass in time.

“Even when I share a little bit of my story, I know 100% that has impacted somebody else for the better,” said Skenandore, a member of the Brown County Coalition for Suicide Prevention. “And that has made my journey and my purpose for being here on this earth very apparent to me.”

Now, Skenandore hopes she can pay that forward by taking part in a panel specifically for people with lived experiences like hers. The panel is part of a free mental health fair organized by the Brown County Coalition for Suicide Prevention. The event takes place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 4 at the Neville Public Museum, 210 Museum Place, Green Bay.

Here’s what you need to know.

Why have a mental health fair?

The Brown County Coalition for Suicide Prevention organizes the Be the Light Walk each September, a one-mile candle walk in Green Bay focused on suicide prevention and stigma reduction.

Coalition partners felt it was important to add more events to their repertoire, especially since one of the coalition’s main goals is to diminish the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health.

In concert with Mental Health Awareness Month, the coalition and its 20-plus organizations will provide resources to the community that focus on proactive responses to mental health conditions and behavioral concerns.

“I’ve always said from the jump that whether one person or 500 people show up, our message of bringing awareness, that’s what we’re there to do,” Skenandore said.

What can the community expect?

In addition to the lived experiences panel, attendees will be able to browse more than 20 tables’ worth of resources from Brown County and the Fox Valley.

The goal is to also move beyond the doom-and-gloom of the event’s heavy topic. Hope, and having fun, are integral to promoting good mental health.

That’s why family-friendly activities will include face painting for kids, food trucks available outside the museum, and the presence of squad cars and firetrucks that are sure to amaze many kids.

The presence of first responders at an event focused on suicide prevention is also symbolic. First responders tend to be the ones to make first contact in dire situations, responding to completed suicides, attempted suicides and people experiencing a mental health crisis.

“We just really felt it was necessary to build a positive connection. They're there to help, and they want to make sure that people around them are safe,” Skenandore said.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in QPR trainings, which stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. QPR endows people with the tools they need to recognize and respond to a suicide crisis.

Who is this event intended for?

The target audience, Skenandore said, is everyone.

Even if a person hasn’t struggled with their mental health, they likely know someone who has. And, Skenandore points out, every person has mental health.

“You never know when this will impact you in one way or another,” Skenandore said.

How do I get involved in the coalition?

The Brown County Coalition for Suicide Prevention meets virtually from 2-2:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month.

Skenandore encourages anyone interested in the topic of suicide prevention to get involved in the coalition. To learn more about future meetings, email BCCFSP@gmail.com.

Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert. If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: New fair focused on mental health comes to the Neville museum on May 4