As of Monday, Keisha Small wasn’t sure whether she would walk or run Sunday, Sept. 25 in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine Walk in Portland. “I might run,” the Wiscasset Middle High School freshman said Monday. Either way, Small, 14, planned to be at Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, taking part in the event along with several other WMHS students and staff.

“It is for a good cause, and also getting involved in your school is a big deal, and I think it would be fun,” she said.

In a group interview in WMHS’ conference room, several of the team’s members encouraged the public to join the team. The students said they are passionate about the cause and many cited personal reasons, including knowing people who have committed suicide.

Senior Kayla Torgersen recalled hearing school counselor Shaye Paradis talk about the team at a recent assembly. “As soon as she said it, I was very interested in it,” Torgersen, 17, said.

Sophomore Logan Giles, 16, said he takes pride in helping the community and working against any kind of discrimination. His teammates added that jokes about people, including jokes about gender or about mental illnesses, can be intense, and they aren’t funny. “They’re really just mean,” Small said.

“We encourage students to be over-communicative about any type of discrimination, and we really take that seriously,” school social worker Carin Stromgren said.

Looking around the table, Paradis said the students on the team are good about speaking out and taking a stand for others. More people should, and the walk is one way to help get that message out, she said.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and NAMI has its Mental Health Awareness Week the first week in October, so now is a good time to be talking about the importance of supporting those who have mental illnesses, Paradis said. “Mental illness is a huge factor in suicide. So we need to talk about it more and show the supports that are out there.”

This week, the teammates planned to Tye-dye tee shirts to wear in the walk. Junior Rebecca Mellin has done the walk twice before, with other groups. This may be the school’s first time entering a team in it, Paradis and Stromgren said.

As of midday Tuesday, about 25 students were on the team, along with several adults, Paradis said.

“The team is still growing,” she said at Monday’s interview. “I still have people coming up to me and saying, ‘I want to join.’” Anyone interested can email Paradis at sparadis@wiscassetschools.org.

Participants can walk a mile or run a 5k, she said. “I think most of us will be walking,” she added, smiling.

Entry is free, Paradis said. Registration starts at 9 a.m. The event promotes awareness but is also a fundraiser for NAMI Maine, she said. To donate as part of the WMHS team’s portion of the fundraising, go to namimaine.org. As of Tuesday morning, the site showed the team had so far raised $305.