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06/20/2019 12:01 AMOn May 25, 158 runners and walkers met the Knights of Columbus Hall in Guilford to participate in the second annual Tracy’s 5K Run, Health Walk hosted by the Women & Family Life Center (WFLC) and Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital.
The race is named after Tracy, a PhD student and an avid runner who loved running through the rain and used exercise to cope with the challenges she had with mental illness. Tracy’s Run symbolizes the fact that mental illness can happen to anyone, regardless of intelligence, background, or character. Both WFLC and the Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital are dedicated to educating people, creating community support, and reducing the stigma for individuals who struggle with mental health issues, and for their families and friends.
“We were honored to have Marna Borgstrom, CEO of Yale New Haven Health Systems, open up this years’ event and speak to the importance of increasing education and awareness about behavioral health and reducing the shame, silence and isolation that individuals with a mental illness often experience,” said WFLC Executive Director Meghan Scanlon.
State Senator Christine Cohen (D-12), State Representative Robin Comey (D-102), State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98), and First Selectman Matthew Hoey also spoke about personal experiences with family and friends and new legislative initiatives to create mental health parity when it comes to seeking coverage for services.
Together with the support of the shoreline community, both WFLC and Yale Psychiatric Hospital hope to raise awareness to be able to provide sufficient resources for people with a mental health concern and bridge the gap from mental illness to wellness. Proceeds will benefit both organizations and the people they serve. The event will return to Guilford with a tentative date of May 30, 2020.