St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea today announced that the 27thAnnual “Heart & Sole” race, held last month, drew 579 participants and raised $7,500 to help fund Behavioral Health Services offered at the hospital. The money will be used to purchase exercise equipment for patients’ use in the hospital’s soon-to-be renovated Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit.
“Exercise and physical activity play a vital role in the recovery of our patients,” said Nancy Siegrist, director of Behavioral Health Services at St. Joe’s Chelsea. “The participants in this year’s event, whether walking, running or biking, recognize the importance of good mental health. Many participated in honor of loved ones who have experienced a mental health condition. We thank them for their involvement and support and for bringing attention to this public health issue.”
Behavioral Health Services at St. Joe’s provides both inpatient and outpatient services to meet the specific needs of patients and their families in Chelsea and surrounding communities in addressing the physical, psychological, and social aspects of well-being. A Community Health Needs Assessment completed in 2015 showed that within St. Joe’s service area, one in four people reported experiencing depression or some form of mental health illness within the past year.
This year’s Heart & Sole race saw many changes, including a new 5k route which sought to keep the course on paved roads, which is easier for those using strollers or assistive walking devices.
“We cannot thank the community enough for their patience throughout the day, especially in regards to road closures for the new 5k route,” said Karla Bernath, director of the 2016 Heart & Sole race. “We especially want to thank the Chelsea Police Department for their service to make this a safe, fun event.”
Next year’s race date has been tentatively set for Saturday, May 20, 2017 and will continue to benefit Behavioral Health Services offered within the hospital.