The Ride for Mental Health NY

The Ride for Mental Health

The Ride for Mental Health is a fundraising ride in New Paltz, NY. The proceeds raised will be donated to McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, for the education, research and treatment of mental illness.

The Cause

The Ride for Mental Health is one of the first rides in the country to benefit mental health. The proceeds raised will be donated to McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, for the education, research and treatment of mental illness including anxiety, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. Our mission is to raise funds for McLean so that we can help accelerate the progress being made to help others who suffer from mental illness. THE Ride for Mental Health is dedicated to the memory of a wonderful young man named Eric who died at 21 from mental illness.

We also hope to end the stigma surrounding mental illness through education and awareness. The promotion of this ride is a start. Many if not most of us are touched by close friends and relatives who have suffered with one type or another of mental illness.

The Facts

The facts are staggering: 40 million adults are affected by anxiety in the U.S. 14 million Americans are affected by borderline personality disorders at some time in their life. Psychiatric disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S., followed by cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, and cancer. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million—experience mental health issues in a given year. 355 million people are affected by depression, making it one of the most common disorders in the world. 50% of students with a mental illness drop out of high school. Each year over 44,000 lives are lost to suicide—with suicide being the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24. More than 90% of children who die by suicide have a mental health condition.

If you don't ride a bike, you can still participate in this historic event as a volunteer. We need volunteers to help with logistics - registration, rest stops, marking ride routes, food, etc. Families, youth clubs, corporate groups, community organizations, and individuals are encouraged and welcomed to volunteer. If you want to help, we guarantee we can find a place for you! For more information contact Angela at [email protected].