LIVE Week promoting positive mental health with contests, prizes

MARQUETTE — In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, one local organization has introduced two mental health–related contests.

West End Suicide Prevention (or WESP), a branch of the Great Lakes Recovery Centers, is presenting LIVE Week, a positive mental health campaign focused on self–care and kindness.

The campaign comes at an opportune time, as many people struggling with mental health may be having a difficult time during quarantine.

“In actuality, about one in five people have a mental health issue, and we want to break the stigma that goes along with that so people know that they’re not alone,” said Amy Poirier, a facilitator for the WESP. “We want people to get help if they need help, and by opening the conversation with something like LIVE, we’re helping to break down that stigma.”

One of the two contests is a bingo contest, where contestants fill out a bingo card; upon completing each square, which contains positive mental health practices, contestants can submit their bingo card for a chance to win prizes. One random person from each UP county will win LIVE merchandise, and three grand prize winners will have the opportunity to win a $20-$75 gift card.

The other contest involves decorating the windows of your home and incorporating what it means to LIVE, which stands for Love yourself, Incorporate others, Value life, and Engage community; contestants must submit a photo of their decorated window. Submitted pictures will be included on a photo album on the WESP Facebook page, and the photos with the most reactions will receive a $40 gift card.

To submit a completed bingo card or pictures for the window contest, email wesp@glrc.org and answer the auto-reply questions.

More information, including downloadable bingo cards and signs, can be found on the LIVE Campaign’s website here.