By Carrie Swain

Mental health issues and suicide are becoming increasingly common among health care trainees and providers. Training programs are usually very rigorous, caring for patients is stressful, and those who care for others often feel that they can’t or shouldn’t admit that they need care themselves.  Long before the pandemic, as many as 45-55 percent of healthcare workers suffered from burnout (Dzau, Kirch, Nasca 2020). Ninety-three percent of healthcare workers were experiencing stress between June and September 2020, 86% reported experiencing anxiety, 77% reported frustration, 76% reported exhaustion, and burnout, and 75% said they were overwhelmed (Mental Health Study, 2020). Unfortunately, there is often a stigma associated with mental illness, and trainees may feel that admitting that they struggle could damage their careers.

The NCANA (North Carolina Association for Nurse Anesthetists) Run for Joy 5K was created in 2021 to bring awareness to the importance of mental health advocacy and wellness among healthcare trainees and to reduce the stigma of seeking help. It’s a 5K run/walk that was created to honor the memory of Katelyn Beardsley, who tragically died by suicide in 2020 while training to become a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist). Katelyn was high functioning, upbeat and encouraging, and no-one could haveanticipated such a tragic end to a beautiful life. Katelyn also loved running, which was her favorite way to combat her own depression and anxiety.

This year is the 4th annual Run for Joy 5K! Over the years we have brought hundreds of runners and walkers together in-person from all over the Triad and beyond. There is also a virtual race option, where runners and walkers can participate from wherever they are and on their own time up to a week before the event. Since 2021, virtual runners have participated from all over the United States, with at least 27 states represented. Our virtual runners are invited to participate in our private Facebook group where the opening ceremonies are streamed live, and they are encouraged to comment and upload their running selfies. Last year, 250 runners participated virtually.

In 2022 Run for Joy, Inc. was established as a charitable organization with a mission to support the mental health and wellness of healthcare trainees with initiatives to empower them and their support systems through direct provision of tools, education, and resources. Proceeds from the annual race help finance initiatives that enhance mental wellness and provide support for those needing mental health services. Current initiatives include a scholarship for on-going counseling for medical trainees in need, a wellness fund for anesthesia school students at Wake Forest School of Medicine, and suicide prevention training for faculty and support persons in medical or nursing programs. The president and vice president of Run for Joy, Inc., who are Katelyn’s loving parents, Jim and Lawrie Beardsley, also presented at a national annual congress of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists to share that “it’s okay to not be okay” and despite entering demanding medical professions, medical trainees can and should get help mental health support when needed.

It is crucial to combat the stigma associated with treatable mental health issues for medical learners, especially after a global pandemic. We want to encourage medical learners to seek help when needed and to dispel the idea of self-sufficiency even as they prepare for their careers. There has never been a more important time for such a change than now.

Runners and walkers of all types are invited to join us virtually or in-person for the fourth annual Run for Joy 5K. The in-person event is set for October 26, 2024, and will begin at 9:00am at Jamison Park (285 Meadowlark Drive, Winston-Salem, NC). 

The non-profit and event planning team for Run for Joy, Inc. can be reached at coo@runforyouws.org.

Jamison Park
285 Meadowlark Dr Winston-Salem, NC
9am, Saturday, October 26, 2024
Registration: www.runforjoyws.org
Instagram: @runforjoyws
Facebook: facebook.com/runforjoyws