FITNESS & SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY/FUNDRAISER EVENT

EMPIRE FITNESS, in partnership with the VA New Jersey Health Care System, will be hosting our 1st annual FITNESS & SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY/FUNDRAISER EVENT! This event will take place on Saturday, January 20th, from 10:00am to 1:00pm at EMPIRE FITNESS.

 

This community event is part of a program to increase local education about suicide prevention and provide resources to veterans, service members, and their families.

 

We know that exercise can affect mental health. Exercise can also reduce depression and thus potentially show reductions in depressive symptoms that are linked to suicidal ideations. This initiative is a year-round effort to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. EMPIRE FITNESS is aware of the importance of using physical activity to stay mentally healthy.

 

Exercise has many mental health benefits, including a reduced risk of depression and anxiety, improved brain and cognitive function, better quality of sleep, and overall quality of life. Many veterans have found fitness activities a way to better cope with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and other service-connected conditions.

 

With this program, we hope to not only increase access to education and resources. We will also work on creating a community that can respond with compassion to a veteran, service member, or family member at risk of suicide. We want to create an educated community that is trained and equipped with resources - a place where the community can make connections. Connections such as these that can occur at EMPIRE FITNESS will help create a sense of belonging and a protective factor against suicide.