D.C. or Bust: 385-Mile Walk Raises Awareness for Depression

On Saturday, August 14th, a group of people left St. Louis, MI, and started to walk. On good days and bad, they've been marching eastward, determined to call attention to and demand adequate treatment for a disease that affects over 20 million Americans -- depression.

Covering 835 miles in 50 days, the walk will end in Washington, D.C. on October 7th, the National Depression Screening Day. Part "pep rally" and part camping trip, the Walk to Washington for Depression Awareness includes 20 stops, where volunteers talk advocacy over burgers and set up information booths outside Statehouses.

On their stop in Zanesville, OH, walk participants, who average about 20 miles a day, rested their legs and collected signatures in front of the local courthouse. Steve Curry, director of the Walk to Washington, told a reporter why he walks.

"Five years ago, I attempted to take my own life and was hospitalized three times. After that, I started an annual 5K walk in St. Louis and thought 'why not do a cross-country walk?'" Curry said.

Although the walk is marked by meetings with like-minded groups, connecting with virtual participants and steady progress toward the Capitol, the journey also highlights the everyday struggles that people with depression face.

On September 10, Curry blogs, "it is 6:30 in the morning and I am suffering terribly. Since we left St. Louis I have had a couple of rough times but the last couple of days have been horrible. I have been sleeping a great deal, crying and isolating. I pray the pain will stop, will go away so I can smile again, but it doesn't."

But on September 22, 2010, Curry is back.

"It is amazing that we have walked in seven states ... We will be crossing into Maryland this weekend. Things are much better for me. The last two weeks have been a living hell and I began to come out of  it on Monday and I am back to my old self. It is amazing to look back at how I felt and how dark my days are."

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans over 18 years of age suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Over 20 million people have depression, and many more go undiagnosed. In addition to feeling stigmatized and alienated, people with depression have to face insurance companies that won't always provide full coverage for mental heath treatments.

With this in mind, the Walk to Washington aims to do more than just raise awareness. Petitions in hand, the group has three fundamental issues it is calling on legislators address: equal and adequate mental health care coverage for all mental health issues; recognition of recovery from mental health issues as a part of overall health care; and investment in prevention, identification and treatment.

Their message of prevention and treatment comes at a particularly emotional time for American youth. This past week, a student at Rutgers took his own life after being cyber-bullied by his roommate and another student. As covered on change.org, a rash of youth suicides in the LGBT community have rocked college and high school campuses.

Depression and other mental illnesses are major risk factors for suicide. According to the NIMH, there were over 30,000 suicide deaths in 2007. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 18-24.

Change.org member Patrick McIlvain is taking part on the Walk to Washington because, "I know that I am not alone when it comes to ... the pull of the negative energy, the feeling of loneliness, sadness, being angry ... "

Patrick is aiming to get as many signatures on the Walk to Washington's petition as he can, so if you'd like to see mental health get the insurance coverage it deserves, sign the petition.

The walkers are almost to their destination. Despite the weather, setbacks and the constant struggle against an exhausting disease, they're upbeat. On their Facebook page today, they state "Raining very heavy today and we will not be walking. We are staying at a Yogi Bear Jellystone Campground and have a small cabin. Fortunately, we have wifi and will be catching up. ONLY 7 DAYS TILL WE REACH D.C.!!!"

Photo credit: Walk to Washington