Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Chicago Former Musicians come together for “Kickin’ the Blues Music Festival”
To Raise Awareness for Mental Health and Suicide Awareness
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. If you or someone you know may be at risk, please call 988. The new three-digit dialing code will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.
When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. Numerous studies have shown that callers feel less suicidal, less depressed, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking with a Lifeline counselor.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults and for every youth suicide it is estimated that 100 to 200 others attempt suicide. Serving Collier and Lee Counties, a non-profit (501c3) called Grounding Wire is focused on raising awareness for suicide prevention and mental health and is using music to do it.
Musicians formerly of the rock band Chicago and currently of Earth Wind & Fire will headline a music festival in Bonita Springs that organizers plan to take statewide to benefit mental health and suicide prevention.
“Kickin’ the Blues Music Festival” is planned for Sat., Nov. 19, from 4 p.m.to 9 p.m. at Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds Street, in Bonita Springs.
Headlining the music festival will be Bill Champlin, Keith Howland and Jeff Coffey, formerly of the hit band Chicago, and John Paris, current member of Earth, Wind & Fire. They will be performing the music that made the groups famous in the 1970s and 1980s with hits such as 25 or 6 to 4, Beginnings, Saturday in the Park, Searchin’, Hard Habit to Break, Boogie Wonderland and Fantasy.
Grounding Wire and Kickin’ the Blues were founded by Frances and Bret Borshell, a husband and wife team who want to help those struggling with anxiety and mental health disorders.
“Mental health issues are impacting the majority of Americans with 70 percent reporting that they have debilitating stress. Suicide is increasing at an alarming rate along with gun violence,” said Frances Borshell. “There aren’t enough resources to help those in need, especially in Southwest Florida.”
Florida has long maintained one of the lowest per capita mental health expenditures in the nation. According to the most recent data from Florida State University, Florida has a per capita mental health services expenditure of $37.28, giving it a rank of 49th for mental health funding in the U.S.
Mental Health of America recently ranked Florida 48th nationwide on access to mental health care. It specifically noted that 633,000 Florida adults with mental illness and 116,000 youth with depression had unmet treatment needs.
Funds raised from the concert will be used to provide mental health toolkits to schools and individuals in need. The kits include guidance for active breathing, present mind awareness, and meditation, along with access to resources such as interactive content, videos, educational information, and other helpful digital content provided by mental health experts
In addition to music, the festival will include mental health providers who can provide information about mental health resources available. Food trucks, beer, wine and healthy beverages also will be available for sale. A meditation station also will be provided.
Tickets are $25 for general admission and $65 for VIP admission. Tickets can be purchased at www.groundingwire.org
Sponsorships also are available from $500 to $25,000. For more information about sponsorships, please email info@groundingwire.org.
Grounding Wire
www.groundingwire.org
