Shine On Louisville music fest celebrates mental health and wellness

July 20^th event at KY Center for the Arts open to all

Promoting the importance of mental wellness as an essential element of our community’s overall health, Seven Counties Services, and the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement and other community partners, will present the first Shine On Louisville Music Fest on Friday, July 20, 2012. This event, open to all at no charge, will feature some of our region’s top musical acts in an evening of melody and relaxation.

Doors for the show at the Bomhard Theatre inside the Kentucky Center for the Arts open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m. and running two hours.

Joining Seven Counties Services and the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement in producing the event are Bridgehaven Mental Health Services, Volunteers of America Kentucky and Wellspring – Living Solutions for Mental Health Recovery.

“One of our top goals is to create a much healthier city and mental health is a critical part of that,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “This is a great partnership and event for targeting improved mental health –music and fellowship can work wonders.”

“Mental health is integral to overall health and well-being and should be treated with the same urgency as physical health,” said Metro Public Health and Wellness director Dr. La Quandra Nesbitt. “It’s important to take care of our mental health to help us cope with the challenges of life and to manage stress.”

One in five Americans will be affected by mental illness sometime in their lifetime. Great strides have been made in the treatment of mental illness over the past half century and many individuals with the most serious mental illnesses find paths to successful recovery and productive lives. As with physical health, preventative measures are a key strategy in creating communities with mental wellness.

“Applying national prevalence data, we know that up to 20,000 residents of Louisville Metro suffer from a mental illness but don’t seek or get treatment that could lead to recovery,” said Dr. Anthony M. Zipple, President and CEO of Seven Counties. “This is often due to the stigma too often attached to mental illnesses. We believe that public events like Shine On can help fight stigma and empower people to get the help they need.”

Working together, Seven Counties, the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement and the other community partners hope to elevate the community’s empathy for those in need of treatment and encourage community support and participation in prevention activities.

Leading a healthy lifestyle goes beyond choosing the best foods and exercising your body. It is also about positive thinking, knowing when to ask for help, surrounding yourself with friends and seeking happiness.

The line-up for the evening includes top-flight professional and amateur talent. Several of the performers will share their own experiences about creating and maintaining mental wellness.

Performers will include: