Watch the video above to see how mental health advocates are shining a light on support.
MILWAUKEE – Taking steps toward brighter days doesn’t mean ignoring the darkness.
On a beautiful sunny fall day, mental health advocates gathered at Washington Park in Milwaukee for the 2026 NAMI Walk, highlighting community and connection while also openly discussing what’s often left in the shadows.
“There’s stigma not only on diagnosis, but seeking help for it,” said Aliza Jens, therapist at Rogers’ Brown Deer Hospital. “We’re not pretending it’s not there. We’re actually talking about it.”
“And even though we have come such a long way with destigmatizing, there’s so much more to be done,” said Cassie Joosten, a fellow therapist at Rogers’ Brown Deer Hospital. “And like we teach in groups, the more we make contact with people, the less stigma there will be.”
Priscilla Oyinlola, mental health technician at Rogers in West Allis, represented the Resilient Team.
“It feels like a community. There’s so many people from different places and just for that one purpose, to just be together, to work together,” Oyinlola said. “I love helping people just go through, you know, different seasons, especially tough seasons.”
Because even tough seasons change, and Oyinlola knows so can we.
“There’s hope,” she said. “There’s something. There’s always something.”
The NAMI Walk included resources for mental health and reminders of the difference that support can make.
“It gives us a chance to see that it is effective even on the really hard days,” Jens said. “For many of us too, we got into this career because we have our own struggles. So, a lot of us are doing it not only for our residents but for ourselves.”
“That’s a very big thing to know that you’re not alone in whatever you’re feeling,” Oyinlola said.
Events like this help bring mental health conversations out of the dark, lighting the way for others to follow.
“It just makes it easier for people to come out of the darkness a little bit, share their story and, and be able to better ask for help,” said Tim Jacob, Community Relations liaison with Rogers.
“It’s a reminder for us and a reminder for all the people that have made it through places like Rogers and are on the other side,” Jens said. “It’s a reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
