After last year’s virtual Warrior Run: The Race for Life, 1N5 was excited to host the 2021 Warrior Run in person. It was a beautiful evening and participants and volunteers were able to gather safely. The smiles, laughter and fun witnessed along the race course and at the post race party reflected the true nature of the Warrior Run…saving lives through positivity and hope.
1N5 raised over $130,000 for mental health education in Greater Cincinnati schools. The need for our services is increasing rapidly and the success of the Warrior Run provides the financial resources to meet these needs.
We are so grateful for over 1500 runners, walkers and volunteers; food and beverage donors; fun music; the residents of Mariemont and Mother Nature whose participation and generosity enable 1N5 to make an impact on the mental wellness of local youth.
Established in 2010, the race honors 1N5 founder and executive director, Nancy Eigel-Miller’s late husband, Jim Miller, who died by suicide in 2008. The name 1N5 reflects the statistic that one in five teens and adults suffer from mental illness. 1N5 is a non-profit organization with a mission to prevent suicide by erasing the stigma of mental illness and promoting optimal metal wellness.
Money raised through the Warrior Run helps 1N5 support Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s Adapt for Life, a mental health and wellbeing program designed for students, grades K-12. In addition, 1N5 is working directly with 85 local schools and 6 universities to provide customized, evidence-based mental health education programs. Working with community partners allows 1N5 to reach even more people across the area to reduce stigma and provide mental health education.
The statistics are horrifying. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in youth ages 10-24. 20% of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition with 50% presenting by age 14 and 75% by age 24. A staggering 18.8% of students reported having seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital had a 154% increase in outpatient mental health visits over the last 8 years. Compared to 2019, mental health related ER visits for children ages 5-11 increased approximately 24% and for youth ages 12-17 by 31%. The scourge of mental illness is affecting more of our youth and at younger ages. The effects of the pandemic are exacerbating the problem in unforeseen ways.