AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - The National Alliance of Mental Illness is raising funds to provide free programs to help folks who need mental health help. 
 
In Austintown Township Park the National Alliance for Mental Illness or NAMI's Mahoning Chapter, held a Mental Health Matters walk. 
 
Each step brings awareness that the organization provides free support groups, free yoga classes, and art therapy activities to help people stay connected so people are not isolated. 
 
"One in five people deal with a mental health issue at some point in their life. We also have people who have a family member who has a serious mental health illness, and that really affects a family, and how they function, and so we have support groups for families as well," Hope Haney, Executive Director of NAMI's Mahoning Valley Chapter. 
 
Whether walking for yourself, a loved one, a friend, a relative, or neighbor NAMI wants to support you in your journey. 
 
Ginger who has worked in social services for many years, says reaching out for help can be the best thing you can do. 
She wants people to see reaching out for help as normal, just as one would for a broken leg or other physical injury.
 
"I myself have mental health issues that play a part in where I am now, but the thing that helped me was getting the right diagnosis, the right therapy, the right medications," Ginger Eilczak, NAMI's Mahoning Valley Community Education Director and Fundraising Coordinator said. 
 
They tell us NAMI can also help people overcome barriers to treatment such as helping with transportation issues. 
The organization is able to do this by raising funds through sponsorships and basket raffles. 
 
All funds that are raised from the walk stay local and support our communities.
 
"There is help out there and they need to reach out," Executive Director Haney emphasized.
 
You can find more information through social media sites and through namimahoningvalley.org