Hope N’ Motion Walk: Showing Support for Youth Mental Health Awareness
People receiving residential services and staff from Citizens Options Unlimited and AHRC Nassau came together for the Hope N’ Motion Walk on May 27 in Glen Cove—participating in the walk, volunteering with refreshments, and joining in community activities. For Christian Rios, who resides at the William Street house in Glen Head, the event was an important opportunity to offer support and positivity around the issue of youth mental health. Christian enjoys spending his mornings walking for the mental health benefits.
When asked what he’d share with young people struggling with mental health, Christian said, “If you need help, then it’s good to get help because it does get better.”
About the Walk-a-Thon
The Hope N’ Motion Walk for Youth Mental Health Awareness is hosted by the nonprofit I Am My Sister, founded by Lela M. Watson. Inspired by her own daughter’s mental health journey, Lela launched the organization to support young girls through mentorship, leadership development, community engagement, and wellness initiatives.
“You start to learn things from a parent’s perspective, then also from a young person’s perspective,” said Lela. “There’s not enough conversation about what’s happening around mental health awareness.”
Lela asked Christine Basile, the Manager of the Red Spring Lane house in Glen Cove, if people receiving residential support and staff would be interested in the walk-a-thon.
“Lela wanted to foster inclusion and community partnership with us because she sees us a lot,” said Christine. “Even though today is focused on teen mental health, I think mental health is something that everyone struggles with.”
The Hope N’ Motion event was a space where young people and adults could discuss mental health and help remove the stigma. And, Lela said, having community members of all backgrounds come together to show support was a powerful message to all in attendance.
“It’s about community and meeting everyone’s needs and making sure that everybody feels a part of the whole,” Lela said.
Congratulations to all the walkers and volunteers for a great walk-a-thon. It truly was a meaningful day of community action.