NAMI Lane County walk brings Springfield together for mental health support

Free mental health support in Lane County is not limited to a crisis line or a clinic visit. NAMI Lane County used its annual Springfield gathering at Island Park to point residents toward year-round programs, online groups, resources and education that are available without a referral.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness chapter held its 8th annual NAMI-Walks fundraiser at Island Park, where the non-competitive 5K ran from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The event mixed live entertainment, family activities and community resources with a simple goal, making help feel visible and easy to reach in the middle of Springfield.

The day also functioned as a low-barrier entry point for families who may not know where to start. Along with the walk itself, the park offered face painting, balloon twisting, acupressure massage, jumbo yard games, laser tag, HIV testing, mindfulness journaling, a sensory zone, food carts and $1 raffle-ticket items. That kind of setup matters in a county where stress, isolation and access to care can keep people from asking for help until they are in crisis.

Jennifer MacLean, NAMI Lane County’s executive director, said she values seeing familiar faces return year after year and said the event gives the community a chance to gather in a safe, nonjudgmental space. Organizers said money raised at the walk will support free mental health programs and education in Lane County, tying the fundraiser directly to services residents can use long after the tents come down.

For people who need more immediate help, Lane County Behavioral Health offers adult outpatient services at 541-682-3608 and child and adolescent outpatient services at 541-682-7253. Oregon agencies also direct people in crisis to 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Countywide mobile crisis services launched in late 2024, and local behavioral-health expansion in Springfield includes PeaceHealth’s Timber Springs Behavioral Health Hospital and a Lane County Stabilization Center near RiverBend hospital on International Way.

That broader network is what made the Island Park walk resonate beyond one Saturday. In Springfield, the message was clear: mental health support in Lane County is not just something discussed in hospitals or offices, but something neighbors can reach through a phone call, a peer group or a community event built around connection.