Taking a walk is great for a person’s physical health and there’s growing evidence that getting out for a stroll is good for mental well-being as well.

An event Friday will enable people to walk for their own health while calling attention to the need for combatting the stigma surrounding mental health problems.

It’s called the Make It OK Walk. It will begin at noon Friday at the City Square.

Participating in the walk, sponsored by the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, is free.

Walkers are encouraged to wear green, which according to the Health Center, is the color for mental health.

Make It OK is a campaign launched by Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative. Its goal is to eliminate stigmas and make it OK for people to talk about mental health issues.

”When our Mason City clinic was invited by Mason City’s Wellness Committee to participate there, we immediately said yes,” said Regina Suhrbier, the outreach coordinator for the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge. ”Then I thought, why do we not have a Make It OK walk in Fort Dodge? The plans just snowballed from there.”

If you go

What: Make It OK Walk

When: Noon Friday

Where: Fort Dodge City Square