The University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Northern Kentucky University, Cincinnati State Community and Technical College and The College of Mount St. Joseph have partnered with 1N5 to take a stand to let their student bodies know they aren’t facing their mental health struggles alone.
A week of events is planned on each campus starting today and culminating with the Warrior Run, Race for Life 5K race. Mental Wellness Week was instituted in 2014 in response to the mental health crisis among students.
1N5 brings mental health struggles out into the open to get conversations started and stigmas erased. It offers transparency to students around a topic that is shrouded in shame and provides education and answers that are powerful for students on either side of the mental health equation.
The five schools have planned events tailor-made for their campus cultures.
UC has created #UCStrong and has a half-time event at the South Florida game this Saturday with a tifo banner, a video of a UC student sharing his own mental health story, with coverage planned by ESPN. XU will feature a photo booth and self-love-letter campaign, NKU is hosting a mental health awareness advocate/suicide prevention trainer, MSJ is kicking their week off with local mindfulness expert Stacy Sims and Cincinnati State will bring students together with a Q&A lunch and learn. In addition, each campus will take a “Stay Stigma-Free” pledge, offer stress management techniques, mental health screenings, awareness fairs and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) tips.
The Wellness Week initiative will culminate with students from each of the five campuses participating as runners or volunteers in the 7th annual Warrior Run 5K event on Saturday, October 1st in Mariemont, Ohio. The USATF-sanctioned 5K Warrior Run begins at the Mariemont Bell Tower on Pleasant Street at 5:30pm and will be followed by a night of music, games, food, and more. At dusk, the event will conclude with an outdoor family movie.
“Suicide is the second leading cause of death in children ages 15-24 according to the National Institute of Mental Health,” said Nancy Miller, Founder, 1N5. One in every five kids ages 13-18 are living with a mental health condition. Our youth are in crisis.” 1N5 provides funding for in-school mental health programs at five area colleges and eight high schools. Since 2008, 1N5 has raised over $475,000 and impacted 75,000 university students and 10,500 high school students.
Register for The Warrior Run here. To volunteer at The Warrior Run visit www.cincywarriorrun.org/volunteer. For more information about 1N5 visit www.1N5.org.
