Walking Minnesota’s border: Recovery Road steps up for youth mental health
Jason Lennox, founder and president of the One Arrow Foundation, is leading a nearly 2,000-mile walk around the border of Minnesota to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health. Lennox said the. . .
Jason Lennox, founder and president of the One Arrow Foundation, is leading a nearly 2,000-mile walk around the border of Minnesota to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health. Lennox said the Recovery Road campaign is in its second year, aiming to spark conversations, collect data, and support community programs. “The goal with the Recovery Road is to create conversation, is to raise money, this year we’re doing a documentary, we’re doing a bunch of data collection,” Lennox said. The campaign includes community events, a documentary, and an 87-county data collection effort to present findings to state legislators. Lennox said, “We’re capturing community stories, having community events along the way, all with the goal at the end to do a few things. Raise money, have grants for programs at a community level. ”Lennox shared his personal journey with mental health and addiction, explaining why the work is so important to him. “This work is important because I was a consumer who survived many many years of should-haves, should have been gone, should have you know not come back, should have ended up dead,” Lennox said. “Having found another life in recovery 15 and a half years later I just think I owe it to the world to give as many people that opportunity as I had. ”TheRecovery Roadcampaign encourages people to get involved by creating walking teams, logging miles, donating, or attending events. Lennox said, “Our website shows all the ways people can create teams so you can create your walking teams up to 10 and log your miles wherever you are. ”Lennox described the campaign’s fundraising progress since starting on June 29th, noting, “We’ve raised 70,000 in-kind services and supplies, and then probably another 35,000 in cash. We’re looking at 250,000 as a goal, and you know we’re 40 plus percent of the way there. ”He also recounted the impact of youth suicide on the campaign’s direction, referencing the loss of an 11-year-old girl named Kenzie Mae. “There was an 11-year-old girl who died by suicide the night before. I had never met this old girl. Kenzie Mae is her name. She’s a very big part of my life now,” Lennox said. The campaign’s focus on youth mental health is driven by rising distress among young people. Lennox said, “41, 42% of our young adults, youth, kids, whatever you want to call it, are clinically distressed at any given time. Think about that. The global mind health report 41 to 42%. That number used to be in the teens. COVID came and it shot up to 50%. ”Lennox emphasized the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations about mental health. “I believe the biggest reason that the other 50 don’t get help, actually I know that 81% of them say that they should be able to do it on their own,” Lennox said. Other speakers at the event shared personal experiences with anxiety, addiction, and the challenges facing today’s youth, highlighting the need for new approaches and greater compassion. “This is a crisis of an epic proportion that I’m terrified for the next generation coming to the workforce,” one speaker said. The Recovery Road campaign will continue its walk, data collection, and community engagement throughout Minnesota, aiming to create lasting change for youth mental health. For Related Stories:AddictionDuluthEthan SchurmanKnife RiverMinnesotaSuicide awareness