‘Strike Out Stigma’: Lincoln nonprofit to host first annual mental health benefit

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)-  Wellbeing Initiative is hosting its first annual mental health benefit in Lincoln on Thursday.

The nonprofit is holding the “Strike Out Stigma” event, which hopes to continue the conversation surrounding mental health, at Sun Valley Lanes.

Ayndrea Bonnet Cannon, the nonprofit’s program coordinator, says her passion stems from her own experience with mental health.

After suffering abuse from a foster brother, Cannon says mental health is something she expects to be “working on for the rest of her life.”

“I experienced a lot of childhood trauma that definitely had an impact on my mental health,” she said.

Cannon says the event aims to create a space for people to take those experiences and use them for good.

“We cannot destigmatize these issues if we are not willing to speak about them openly and honestly,” she said.

The nonprofit offers peer support and connections to resources across Lincoln.

“Everyone should have that opportunity,” she said. “No one should have to be waiting on the sidelines for weeks or months on end.”

The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and tickets can be found here.