A mural—painted by local artist Irineo Medina—is meant to inform the community about SupportOthersSupportYourself.com, a website with mental health tools and resources for Northeast Wisconsin residents, Nov. 25, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A big message about mental health is being sent in Kaukauna.
A mural—painted by local artist Irineo Medina—is meant to inform the community about SupportOthersSupportYourself.com, a website with mental health tools and resources for Northeast Wisconsin residents. The website is part of a larger mental wellness campaign in the county.
“When you’re down bad, you know, you have this little ball of light and you’re trying desperately to protect it,” Medina explained. “Everybody has their own light, and in the depths its like, you’re trying to protect that. When you work your way through the journey, whatever that looks like to you, then it becomes something you can share.”
The mural was created with the help of a grant from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
It is located on the side of The Pub in downtown Kaukauna.
Beside the mural is a QR Code which sends you to the Support Others Support Yourself website. Medina said he wants it to start more discussions.
“What I think I really hope it does is it just creates dialogue and discourse around mental health,” he said. “It breaks down barriers, it breaks down stigma around what it means to seek help.”
David DeGrood with Outagamie County Public Health says the mural is a more grounded approach to connect with the community.
“We had a bunch of professionals who understand mental health in the room together, but just because we understand it doesn’t mean the community does,” he said. “A mural was a great way to show that everybody has a light to share with other people, we just need to make sure they know about it.”
Outagamie County Public Health says another mural is planned for Grand Chute in 2025.
If you or someone you know are in imminent danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. If you are having thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, call your county’s crisis line or 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Anyone in need of support can call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at all hours of the day or night to talk with a trained counselor about any challenge or concern. This service is free and confidential.
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