Take a moment and think about what mental health means to you. Maybe you think of positive things such as self care, mental and emotional wellbeing, advocacy, awareness, strength, etc. Perhaps you have a negative view towards mental health because of the stigma it often carries. Mental health stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, and discriminatory behaviors towards individuals with mental health conditions. Mental health stigma can manifest in different ways. Those dealing with mental health illnesses may face being stereotyped and discriminated against. Self-stigma can also exist! This is when someone has their own negative beliefs about their mental illness. This can lead to a range of emotions and reluctance to get treatment for their illness.
When I look back on growing up in the Illinois Valley, I recognize that I was sheltered from knowing much about mental health. Several factors could have influenced this - immediate family wanting to protect me, lack of understanding of mental health, generational patterns passed down where mental health was not discussed, lack of resources in the community - I could go on. All of these factors tie back to mental health stigma. I’ve been working in the mental health field for 15 years. While I’ve seen improvement during that time, there is still plenty of work to be done to fight against the stigma of mental health.
Having struggled with anxiety myself, the one coping strategy that has always worked to help me manage my stress and anxiety has been to run. I learned quickly that running helped me decrease my symptoms of anxiety. It helped me manage my stress and it was not only good for me mentally, but it benefitted me physically as well. Over the years I have continued to use running as a coping strategy, but adapted it to also be a motivating factor. If I don’t have a goal I am working towards, I tend to feel “stuck” and not sure what direction I am going. So I began setting goals for running. I started running 5ks, then 10ks, half marathons, and finally I have done two marathons with Team World Vision at the Chicago Marathon. After completing last year's marathon I felt accomplished, but felt the drive to connect my love of running with my passion for advocating for mental health. This year my goal is to help others and our community work to break free of the mental health stigma. That is where I found team NoStigmas.
After seeing the NoStigmas mission and what their team was doing for individuals and communities, I knew I had found my place. I sent in my application, interviewed, and was offered a spot on their 2025 Chicago Marathon NoStigmas team. So, now begins the training. I will put in the physical work and the miles to help spread awareness, but I can’t do it alone. NoStigmas is a charity organization. Along with training for and running this marathon on team NoStigmas, I will be fundraising to help support their mission. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated! Every donation counts. I am hoping you will join me on this journey to help spread the word that with mental health, there are No Stigmas.
