Van Buren County to host first-ever Mental Health Walk on World Mental Health Awareness Day
Van Buren County residents of all ages are invited to participate in the county’s first-ever Mental Health Walk on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in recognition of World Mental Health Awareness Day.
Hosted by the Van Buren Intermediate School District’s Youth Collaborative, the free community event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Van Buren Tech, 250 South St. in Lawrence. Participants should follow event signage to the walking path located north of the Van Buren Tech Center.
The Mental Health Walk is designed as a welcoming, low-pressure, open-house-style event where community members can learn about local mental health resources, build resilience, and explore practical wellness tools. Rather than a structured race or 5K, the less-than-half-mile walk allows participants to move through the event at their own pace between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Throughout the event, participants will have the opportunity to visit interactive stations featuring skills from the Community Resilience Model (CRM), an evidence-based framework that helps individuals understand the nervous system and develop practical skills for building resilience. All stations and activities are optional.
The event will also feature opportunities to connect with local agencies and providers, a touch-a-truck experience, and a free book giveaway for the first 100 toddlers who attend. Free sack lunches will be available to the first 100 participants. The walking route includes both paved and grassy areas. Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and terrain.
