Kim Davis poses with the 1966 Volkswagen Dune Buggy that he brought to the June three Breaking the Stigma Automobile Show. The show was held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in honor of Corey Stewart, who died by suicide in April 2022. (Bryson Durst — The News-Herald).
Dozens of vehicles, trucks and other automobiles had been gathered for a June three car or truck show developed to raise awareness of mental well being and suicide prevention.
Josh Stewart organized the inaugural Breaking the Stigma Automobile Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds in honor of his 21-year-old son, Corey, who died by suicide in April 2022. Representatives from nearby mental well being organizations attended the show, which raised funds for the Lake County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Stewart was motivated to start out the show by his and Corey’s shared interest in vehicles.
“I felt, just after his suicide and studying a lot more and a lot more about mental well being and suicide prevention, that there wasn’t a lot of speak publicly,” he mentioned.
“Instead of turning to alcohol and getting upset about my son’s death, I took all these feelings of anger, sadness, confusion and I mentioned, I want to do some thing constructive, so I decided to do a car or truck show because my son loved car or truck shows,” Stewart added. “He’s a motorhead just like I am.”
The choice of automobiles ranged from classic vehicles to trucks, a military automobile and Painesville Township fire engines. There had been awards across a selection of categories, such as finest of show, NAMI’s decision and veterans decision.
Kim Davis brought his 1966 Volkswagen Dune Buggy to the occasion.
“They want to have a lot more items like this so there’s a lot more awareness and every little thing like that,” Davis mentioned. “Nobody requirements to go like that.”
Shawn Hamrick came from Niles with his 2019 Peterbilt “Remember Absolutely everyone Deployed” truck, which is developed to honor service members.
“First possibility I had to do some thing for suicide, getting that my brothers committed suicide, I’m for it,” he mentioned. “Bring awareness, support individuals out.”
The occasion also incorporated meals trucks, although different enterprises and organizations entered the show as vendors. Amongst these vendors had been NAMI Lake County and Crossroads Overall health.
“The significance of an occasion like this is to bring mental well being to the forefront, acquiring a lot more individuals out and conscious of what’s obtainable in their neighborhood as far as sources,” mentioned Crossroads Neighborhood Improvement Coordinator Scott Smith.
He noted that Crossroads provides solutions such as counseling, dual diagnosis and group therapy, as properly as principal care.
“Now we can see the complete patient,” Smith mentioned. You come in for mental well being solutions, we can also test your blood sugar as properly.”
He noted that individuals can attain Crossroads at crossroadshealth.org or 440-255-1700. According to the organization’s site, it operates places in Mentor, Painesville and Willoughby.
Joanna Mannon and Ashlee Himes each came to represent NAMI Lake County. They noted that the organization provides help groups for individuals with mental well being circumstances and their loved ones, with certain groups for veterans and individuals with substance use disorder. It also provides advocacy, education applications and help for parents, amongst other solutions.
Mannon noted that all of NAMI’s solutions are totally free.
“They constantly say it requires a village to raise young children,” Himes mentioned. “It also requires a village to help adults and stuff, so we’re genuinely attempting to be that village for individuals that really feel like they do not have a village, or really feel isolated.”
Far more information and facts is obtainable at namilakecountyohio.org or by calling 440-639-1200.
The car or truck show raised funds by way of a $20 participant charge, a Chinese auction and a raffle, Stewart mentioned. About 80 vehicles had pre-registered ahead of the occasion.
In addition to raising awareness, he expressed hope that the occasion would save a life and teach guests “what to appear for inside their personal loved ones.”
“It’s ok not to be ok, it is ok to obtain somebody to speak to, it is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of,” Stewart added.
According to the NAMI Lake County crisis webpage, the Lake County Crisis Hotline can be reached at any time by calling 440-953-8255. A educated crisis counselor can also be reached by texting NAMI to 741-741.
Stewart added that individuals can dial 988 for the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. According to the site, veterans can press 1 just after dialing 988 to access the Veterans Crisis Line.
“Make confident you make use of that, since they’re licensed therapists, they’re there to support you out and make confident you get out of that dark spot and back into the light,” he mentioned.