Looking for an idea on how to spend this sunny Saturday afternoon? How about chilling to some music? Maybe a game of corn hole? Perhaps a lazy lunch? Mix all these elements, add some art and creative expression and you have the recipe for M-Fest!

'M-Fest is an all day music and art festival mixed in with a purpose,' said David Prier, vice president of the student organization REACH.

REACH promotes positive mental health on UD's campus and is the official sponsor of M-Fest.

M-Fest began the spring of 2003 with the suicide of Mike Littler. His friends decided to throw M-Fest to reach out to others suffering from depression and to raise awareness about mental illnesses. M-Fest skipped a year and was brought back last spring with the help of REACH.

REACH began last year in response to the suicide of Steve Yano. Although last year its main objective was to bring back M-Fest, this year the club took on more members and held other events. REACH presented a Mental Health Forum and, in cooperation with the Counseling Center, offered Mental Health Screening Days.

M-Fest will include music, food, games and testimonials. The testimonials are students' personal accounts of dealing with mental illness, either their own battle or watching someone they know go through it.

'They come through a difficult situation through the help of others and the help of the Counseling Center,' said Prier.

'Art and music are good ways of self-expression. They are good, positive outlets,' said REACH secretary Katie Kurtz. 'The mood is really healthy and fun. The focus is with positive mental health. It's about awareness and breaking down stigmas.'

Positive mental health is 'being aware of your own person, your own needs and when something is wrong taking care of it,' said Prier. 'Like physical health, mental health is something that has to be worked at.'

'It's being aware of your own emotions,' added Kurtz.

Nichole Davis, president of REACH, said literature about the signs and symptoms of depression will be handed out and posters from the Counseling Center will hang throughout ArtStreet articulating positive messages of hope such as: 'Asking for help is a sign of strength.'

There will be an art exhibit in ArtStreet and two stages to host thirteen local bands, almost half of them student bands including 'The Goods,' 'The Melting Room,' 'The Werks,' 'Collin and Sean,' 'The Back Porch Jam' and 'The Skeleton Crew.' In addition, two Greek organizations will present a step performance and the Dayton Improv Club will perform. There are lots of free things and many prizes to be raffled off, including a free trip to Daytona.

The Counseling Center and Dayton Suicide Hotline will be present if students wish to talk to someone.

Entry-fee is $5 or you can buy a T-shirt for $10 and your entrance is free. There will be free re-entry to the all-day festival. The money raised goes to the Mike Littler Fund for Mental Well-Being.

For questions or more information about M-Fest e-mail Nichole Davis at nicholecdavis@gmail.com. If you wish to be on the REACH mailing list contact Katie Kurtz at kurtzkaa@notes.udayton.edu.