Written by Alexandra Swift &
Tracy McEvoy
I am running the NYC Marathon for
NAMI again this year to continue my journey raising money for much needed
awareness for mental health.
So much has happened since I
originally made the decision to run last year. After losing two teenage boys to
suicide in our town in the spring of 2022, the Darien community that I call
home has taken enormous strides to put an end to the stigmas around mental
illness. We encourage each other to make contact and check-in with friends, we
know it’s okay to reach out for help, and we are more accepting of each other’s
struggles and differences.
What started as a fundraising
effort for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month last fall has become an integral
part of a town-wide mental health movement, and the now newly formed non-profit,
called Wave Strong. At the core of everything Wave Strong stands
for is the strength and power of community, and simply knowing that you are not
alone. I carry the Wave Strong message with me now in hopes that through
much-needed support and awareness, we can reach and help those who may be
struggling in silence.
After running the marathon last
November, however tired I was physically from the race did not stop the
restlessness I feel about the mental healthcare system in this country. Mental
Health is Health, yet we treat it as if it’s an outlier or not as
important as our physical health. I would argue that mental health is the most
important factor of our wellbeing as humans, and my concern for the future,
especially for children, is rooted in fact:
1. Suicide is the 2nd
leading cause of death among people aged 10-14, and the 3rd
leading cause of death among those aged 15-24 in the U.S. It is in the top 10
causes of death for all age groups, including children under the age of
10. This means that suicide impacts every single age group in the U.S.
2. 33.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also
experienced a substance use disorder in 2021 (19.4 million individuals).
3. 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental
health disorder each year.
These are extremely frightening
statistics to see. Since March of 2022, I, Tracy, have carried the label of the
mother whose son died by suicide. These statistics are reality, and yet death
by suicide keeps happening. I continue to meet more and more people who carry
the same intense and immense pain as I feel.
In the past 17 months, I have
bonded with other survivors of suicide loss. Each conversation brings a
different perspective that centers back to the stigmas around mental health,
and how these stigmas are often what prevents people from getting the help they need.
One individual I’ve met who
attempted suicide as a teenager can now recognize what the “black tunnel” looks
like as an adult, and asks for help if he feels the he is approaching
it. Another adult has struggled with mental illness all her life, and uses
techniques learned in therapy to cope when she recognizes the overwhelming feelings
coming on. As more of us develop tools for mindfulness, and encourage dialogue
that reduces the stigmas and shame around mental illness, our goal is to help
people realize that it's ok to not be ok, and avoid the approach to the
dark tunnel.
There are resources and
organizations, like NAMI, dedicated to helping people and families improve
their mental health. And through Wave Strong, we now hope to make a direct
impact on our community's mental health.
We are so grateful for everyone who
has been able to follow this journey and cheer on Alex's first successful run.
However, there is still lots of work to be done, and we once again ask for your
help and support.
We are Stronger Together.
Learn more about what made me run
in 2022:
https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/alexandra-swift-1
https://www.shouldercheck.org/
#MM21 #HT40 #WaveStrong
