15 year old on track to solo hike 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail
Village Farmer & Bakery, 52 Broad Street, Delaware Water Gap, PA – 15 year old Neva “Chipmunk” Warren is on pace to become the youngest solo thru hiker of the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. Four months and 1,200 miles into her journey from Georgia to Maine, she will pause Friday near the PA-NJ border to speak of her trail experiences, adolescent depression and HIKE for Mental Health.
Originally from New Jersey, Neva’s desire to become the youngest solo thru hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) started after hiking a small section of the A.T. in Shenandoah National Park during a family camping vacation in October, 2012.
Neva “Chipmunk” Warren speaks of her 4 month journey and adolescent depression
She will speak of her experiences on the Trail, including her trail name “Chipmunk”, her battle with depressive episodes and the need for better treatments for adolescent depression.
Also on hand will be Tom Kennedy, vice president of HIKE for Mental Health. A resident of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, Tom will address ways hikers can fuel research into better treatments for major mental illnesses, such as depression and schizophrenia, with their hikes.
The event will be held at the Village Farmer & Bakery, 52 Broad Street, Delaware Water Gap, PA at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 2.
Hard to believe such a beautiful young lady would have to deal with depression but I guess this goes to show mental issues can happen to anyone.
Unfortunately, 1 in 4 American families struggles with mental illness. 20% to 30% of adolescents experience at least one depressive episode. The stigma around mental illness keeps a lot of it “invisible” but that doesn’t make it any less real and impactful. That’s why lifting the stigma and supporting research to deepen our understanding of mental illnesses is so critical.
A friend just completed a run across America to raise awareness and help end mental health stigma. Check it out at http://www.runchad.com/