ATLANTA, May 24, 2016 — The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and OCD Georgia are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk in Atlanta on June 4, 2016, at Chastain Park. The walk aims to raise awareness about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health disorder that affects over 2 million adults and a half million children in the U.S. alone.
Michael Jenike, MD, founder of the OCD Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, founder of the OCD Institute at McLean Hospital, and an outspoken advocate for people living with OCD, will be leading the festivities as the Grand Marshal.
“The Walk is an ideal way to help create awareness while also raising money to support the work of the IOCDF and OCD Georgia, says Dr. Jenike. “I am looking forward to being in Atlanta. If you’re in the area, come join us.”
Atlanta joins three other cities hosting the IOCDF’s 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk on June 4th — Boston, where the walk first began in 2013; Houston, TX; and Oakland, CA. The walks are all part of a national effort to raise awareness about OCD and break the stigma surrounding mental illness and raise funds to support the important work of the IOCDF.
“OCD affects 1 in 100 adults, but it is still little understood in the general public,” explains Jeff Szymanski, PhD, executive director of the IOCDF. “This walk is about building a community of support — and making sure people know how to access the resources and support they need.”
The Walk is open to people of all ages in the Atlanta area — visit www.iocdf.org/walk to learn more.
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About the International OCD Foundation & OCD Georgia
The International OCD Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a donor-supported nonprofit organization, working to increase access to effective treatment, end the stigma associated with mental health issues, and foster a community for those affected by OCD and the professionals who treat them. Based in Boston, the IOCDF has affiliates in 22 states and territories, as well as 11 global partners. The IOCDF has a $2 million annual operating budget, has granted millions of dollars for OCD research, and is a vital resource for the estimated 1 in 100 individuals with OCD around the world. For more information, visit www.iocdf.org.
OCD Georgia is the local affiliate of the International OCD Foundation, working toward the same mission of supporting those affected by OCD throughout the state of Georgia. To learn more, visit www.ocdgeorgia.org.
Contact:
Carly Bourne
Director of Communications & Marketing, International OCD Foundation
Phone: 617-973-5801
Email: cbourne@iocdf.org