MUSCATINE, Iowa–For Chase SyWassink and Andrew “Skippy” Armstrong, raising awareness about mental health and mental health services means a lot to them. As SyWassink explained it, “I and so many others suffer from the stigma of mental health, and we want people to know it’s okay to not be okay.”

Together, the two friends started looking for ways they could support mental health services in Muscatine. In talking with their mutual friend Tony Loconsole, “Tone,” they learned about the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, of the Greater Mississippi Valley and started developing an event to benefit the organization. Armstrong contacted the band Fueled by Emo, an emo and pop punk band paying tribute to Fall Out Boy and Paramore, and their Reaching Out concert started to take shape.

For $10, anyone wanting to support NAMI can come out to the Missipi Brew Oct. 16 at 9:30 p.m. Fueled by Emo will play throughout the evening, giving people a chance to enjoy some very popular music from the early 2000s all the way up to the present day. To support NAMI further, several raffles will take place during the concert and the Brew will also donate a percentage of their sales to further the cause.

Because SyWassink and Armstrong have never hosted Reaching Out before, they have not set a specific fundraising goal. They simply hope to do their best to support all the programs and services NAMI offers. “As far as the amount we wish to raise goes, I just want to raise as much money as we possibly can,” emphasized SyWassink.

With mental health issues a common concern in Muscatine County and elsewhere, SyWassink would like to see Reaching Out not only raise money for NAMI but help people learn about NAMI and take advantage of the mental health support they provide the people with mental health conditions and their friends and families. “We all know someone or of someone who is struggling or has struggled with mental illness,” said SyWassink. “This show is raising money for an organization that had the tools and education on finding help for these individuals.” 

SyWassink and Armstrong also hope that everyone who comes has a blast enjoying some fun music as well. “We’re really hoping to see a huge turn out for this event and we can’t wait to have some fun and rock out all night,” SyWassink added.