China McCarney welcomes you to Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression and explains the passion behind the organization!
MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY? TEXT 741741 or DIAL 988
China McCarney welcomes you to Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression and explains the passion behind the organization!
This topic is privately so important to me, though publicly I have not had the courage to talk about my struggles with depression and anxiety. I know first hand the benefit physical activity has on mental health- discovering running saved my life!- and how mental health discussions can be taboo, especially in minority communities and religious communities, because often people are blamed/shamed for creating their condition. We also need to bring to light the lack of access to safe physical outlets, which can, as in my case, help alleviate symptoms. Quality P.E instruction for our youth in public schools, for example, who statistically will at some point encounter mental health issues at a 20-25% rate (perhaps higher in specific communities) is unavailable in many under-served communities, while we know the myriad benefits exercise provides mentally, emotionally/socially, and academically. Thank you for bringing mental health, especially anxiety and depression, to the forefront of the conversation, and connecting it to athletics/physical activity.