NYRR Honors Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month, observed every year in May, is a time to raise awareness and educate the public about mental health issues, share strategies to attain mental health, and counter the stigma around mental health challenges.

NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire people through running. As the world’s premier community running organization, one of the most important ways we can do that is to provide opportunities and inspiration to positively impact our community's mental health through physical fitness.

Exercise for Mental Health 

Running can be a powerful tool for supporting mental health, and it is low risk, accessible, and widely accepted as a way to build mental stamina to do hard things.

Recent studies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that adults can lower their risk of depression by 18-20% simply by starting an exercise program like running. The amount of activity needed is minimal – about two and a half hours of brisk walking or jogging per week. 

This year during Mental Health Awareness Month, we’ll hold events and programs all month long to raise awareness of mental health issues, fight stigmas around mental illness, provide support, educate the public, and provide resources.

We invite you to join the conversation on social media by using #MyRunnersHigh.

Open Run for an Open Mind with Molly Seidel

We’ll kick off Mental Health Awareness Month on Tuesday, May 2 at Open Run for an Open Mind in Astoria Park, Queens. Molly Seidel, a U.S. Olympic medalist who’s been open about her mental health struggles and has advocated for removing stigmas around mental health, will join us. View the photo gallery.

NYRR Open Run serves communities by providing 15 free weekly runs in parks across all five boroughs and in Jersey City, bringing together people of all ages, paces, and abilities. Learn more here.

Fireside Chat with Molly Seidel

On May 2, 2023, to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer sat down with Olympian Molly Seidel at the NYRR RUNCENTER featuring the New Balance Run Hub to discuss her mental health challenges over the course of her career. Catch the highlights below or watch the Full Fireside Chat.

Mental Health Events and Programs for All

• NYRR community programs serve people of all ages and abilities with running and exercise opportunities that can positively impact their mental health. Our programs include Rising New York Road Runners (youth), Run for the Future (young women), and Striders (older adults).
• Sign up for Mental Health Month Run/Walk with NYRR, a Strava Run Club event taking place throughout the month of May. Challenge yourself to move for 30 minutes each day. Whether you go for a run, walk with your dog, or do a peaceful morning stretching routine, all movement matters as we take care of our minds and bodies. Learn more and register here.
• To elevate the benefits of running on overall wellness, including mental health, NYRR is hosting free virtual Mindful Monday Meditations and virtual Run/Walks throughout the month (May 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29). Register here.

Resources

Free mental health resources in NYC are available to people of all ages and backgrounds. For over 40 years, the New York City chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-NYC) has offered life-changing support, education, and advocacy to families and individuals affected by mental illness. NAMI-NYC's services are free of charge and accessible to anyone who needs them. All programs and services are completely free and available regardless of income, insurance, or immigration status. Learn more here.

Molly Seidel Shares Her Mental Health Challenges

Molly Seidel is an Olympic medalist and one of America's top distance runners. She has been transparent about her struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and eating disorders. 

For Danny Barcia, Running Has Physical and Mental Health Benefits

During Mental Health Awareness Month, NYRR Open Run participant and three-time New York City Marathon finisher Danny Barcia is celebrating a return to his community and the sport he loves. 

Our Program Participants Share the Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

NYRR’s community programs bring free running and fitness opportunities to communities all over NYC. The benefits of exercise go beyond the physical to include mental health benefits, too. Here, program participants share how exercise impacts their mental health. 

"Running Has Been Invaluable for My Mental Health"

College lacrosse player Cailin Bracken wrote an open letter to college sports about the mental health stresses facing student athletes. On May 20, she'll run her first-ever race at the RBC Brooklyn Half.

Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics. 

Running Toward Emotional Health

Zaida Espinoza will run her first RBC Brooklyn Half on May 20. A New York City native, Zaida has found that running helps her heal from trauma associated with her deployment during the Iraq War.

Photos courtesy of  Zaida Espinoza.

This month is also  Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month – check out our content here.