The Ride for Mental Health

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The Ride for Mental Health

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in the annual Ride for Mental Health June 27 - 28, 2026 in New Paltz, NY. The promotion of this ride is a start.

The Cause

The Ride for Mental Health is one of the first rides in the country to benefit mental health. The proceeds raised will be donated to McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, for the education, research and treatment of mental illness including anxiety, borderline personality disorder, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. Our mission is to raise funds for McLean so that we can help accelerate the progress being made to help others who suffer from mental illness. THE Ride for Mental Health is dedicated to the memory of a wonderful young man named Eric who died at 21 from mental illness. We also hope to end the stigma surrounding mental illness through education and awareness. Many if not most of us are touched by close friends and relatives who have suffered with one type or another of mental illness. The Facts

The facts are staggering: 40 million adults are affected by anxiety in the U.S. 14 million Americans are affected by borderline personality disorders at some time in their life. Psychiatric disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S., followed by cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, and cancer. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million—experience mental health issues in a given year. 355 million people are affected by depression, making it one of the most common disorders in the world. 50% of students with a mental illness drop out of high school. Each year over 44,000 lives are lost to su***de—with su***de being the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24. More than 90% of children who die by su***de have a mental health condition.

About McLean

Located just eight miles from downtown Boston, McLean Hospital is an international center for psychiatric treatment, education, and research. Founded in 1811, McLean is the largest psychiatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. McLean is dedicated to delivering specialized and individualized care provided by expert, compassionate members of its team. In addition to offering state-of- the-art diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of behavioral and psychiatric illnesses, McLean also offers an expansive array of specialized academic and clinical programs for children and adolescents as well as dedicated services for older adults. Treatment spans a full continuum including inpatient and acute longer-term residential care, partial hospitalization, outpatient services, and therapeutic and specialized schools. Services are offered at a number of McLean Hospital sites throughout Massachusetts, including the main campus in
Belmont. McLean Hospital is dedicated to improving the lives of people and families affected by psychiatric illness. McLean pursues this mission by:
-Providing the highest quality compassionate, specialized and effective clinical care, in partnership with those whom we serve

-Conducting state-of- the-art scientific investigation to maximize discovery and accelerate translation of findings towards achieving prevention and cures

-Training the next generation of leaders in psychiatry, mental health and neuroscience

-Providing public education to facilitate enlightened policy and eliminate stigma

For more information: mcleanhospital.org

© 2022 www.rideformentalhealth.org/ - THE Ride For Mental Health.

10/16/2026

🚴 The Mental Health Benefits of Riding With Friends 🚴

There's something especially enjoyable about getting out on your bike with other people. Maybe it's catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a while, discovering a new route together or having someone beside you when the miles start getting challenging. Beyond the enjoyment, there are also good reasons why group cycling can support mental well-being.

Research has shown that regular physical activity can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Separately, studies have found that strong social relationships are associated with better mental health, while loneliness and social isolation can negatively affect well-being.

Riding with friends offers an opportunity to bring these two important parts of a healthy lifestyle together. It creates time for exercise and social connection, while giving people a shared activity that can make conversations feel more natural.

That connection is an important part of The Ride for Mental Health. Every year, riders come together with different backgrounds, experiences and reasons for participating, united by a commitment to challenging the stigma surrounding mental illness.

As you make plans for the weekend, consider reaching out to a friend and planning a ride together. Whether it's a leisurely spin or a longer route, the time you spend connecting can be every bit as worthwhile as the miles you cover.

Here's to riding away the stigma, one conversation and one ride at a time.

10/14/2026

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED CYCLIST TO PARTICIPATE!

One of the things that makes The Ride for Mental Health special is the variety of people who come together for Ride weekend. Some have years of cycling experience, others are taking on their first organized ride, and many are simply looking for a new challenge that supports a cause they care deeply about.

That's why we offer several route options, including a 14-mile Rail Trail ride, 25-mile and 50-mile routes, and a 100-mile challenge. You can choose the distance that feels right for you and spend the coming months preparing at your own pace.

And you're supported along the way! Our Ride includes rest stops, SAG support and mechanics to help make the experience enjoyable for riders of different experience levels.

Whether you're riding for your own mental health journey, someone you love or the opportunity to help challenge stigma, you belong at The Ride.

We'll be back in New Paltz, NY, June 26–27, 2027, and early discounted registration is now open!

🔗 Explore the routes and register: https://bit.ly/2027RideRegistration

10/12/2026

🧠 Did you know that anticipating a positive experience can benefit your mental health before the experience even happens?

Psychologists call this positive anticipation. Research suggests that imagining and planning enjoyable future experiences can generate positive emotions in the present, giving us something rewarding to think about even during stressful or busy weeks.

For cyclists, that might mean looking forward to a new route, training for a longer distance or planning a weekend of riding with friends. The excitement isn't limited to event day. The preparation and progress along the way can be part of the enjoyment, too.

And now's a great time to put that into practice! Early discounted registration for The Ride for Mental Health 2027 is officially open, giving you more than eight months to look forward to June 26–27 in New Paltz, NY.

Give yourself something exciting to work toward while supporting mental health awareness and helping challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness.

🔗 https://bit.ly/2027RideRegistration

10/10/2026

🎉 REGISTRATION IS OPEN! 🚴

The Ride for Mental Health 2027 is officially open for early discounted registration, and we're so excited to welcome everyone back!

We're heading to New Paltz, NY, on June 26–27, 2027, for another weekend of cycling, connection and community. From the excitement at the starting line to the encouragement along the routes and the celebrations afterward, there's so much to look forward to. Whether you're returning for another year, bringing friends or family, or experiencing The Ride for the first time, we can't wait to see you there!

Today is also , making this an especially meaningful moment to begin our next Ride. It's an opportunity to celebrate how far we've come in opening conversations about mental health while recognizing the work still ahead to challenge stigma and support those affected by mental illness.

And the best part? You have more than eight months to train, choose your route, build a team and start fundraising. Can't make it to New Paltz? You can participate virtually, too!

Early discounted registration is available now, so get June 26–27 on your calendar and make your plans official.

🔗 Register today: https://bit.ly/2027RideRegistration

10/07/2026

‼️⏰3 DAYS TO GO ⏰‼️

The countdown to 2027 registration is officially on.

This Saturday, October 10, World Mental Health Day, early discounted registration opens for The Ride for Mental Health 2027.

If you’ve already saved June 26 + 27 on your calendar, you’re ahead of the game. Now comes the fun part: deciding what you want your 2027 Ride to look like. Come back to your favorite route, move up to a new distance, bring someone along for their first Ride, or make 2027 the year you finally experience it for yourself.

Four days until you can make it official.

10/04/2026

There are more than eight months between October 10 and Ride weekend. A lot can happen in that time.

A registration can become the reason you finally attempt a new distance. A fundraising page can start conversations with people who never knew why mental health mattered so much to you. One invitation to a friend can turn into a team. And months of training can eventually bring you to New Paltz surrounded by hundreds of riders who each arrived with a reason of their own.

That journey begins October 10, when early registration for The Ride for Mental Health 2027 opens on .
Opening registration on this day is intentional. World Mental Health Day brings people around the world into conversations about mental health, and The Ride gives our community a way to carry those conversations forward through the months that follow.

Registering early gives you the most time to train, fundraise, plan your weekend and bring other people along. You’ll also be able to take advantage of discounted early registration before pricing increases later in the registration period.

June 26 + 27, 2027 will be here before we know it. Before October 10 arrives, think about why you want to be there.

09/30/2026

Ask a group of riders why they participate in The Ride for Mental Health and you won’t get just one answer.

Some ride because mental illness has affected their own lives. Some ride for a family member or friend. Others ride in memory of someone they’ve lost or because they believe talking openly about mental health can help reduce the stigma surrounding it. Those individual motivations are part of what brings hundreds of people to New Paltz each year.

Last year, we asked several participants to tell us what inspired them to ride. Their answers offer a glimpse at the stories behind the jerseys, fundraising pages and miles.

With early registration for the 2027 Ride opening October 10, now is a good time to think about what your own answer might be. If you decide to ride next June, who or what will be behind your miles?

09/28/2026

Before October begins, take a look at the month ahead with a different question in mind. Instead of starting with everything you need to get done, think about something you genuinely want more room for.

Maybe it’s getting outside more often before the days get shorter, spending time with people you haven’t seen enough lately, riding more consistently, getting better sleep or leaving a little more of your weekend unscheduled. Once you know what it is, consider giving it a place on the calendar now rather than hoping there will be time left for it later.

That could mean putting a morning ride on the calendar, making plans with a friend before another few weeks go by or protecting an evening that would otherwise inevitably fill up. You don’t necessarily need more hours in October. You may just need to be more intentional about where some of the hours you already have go.

And while you’re looking ahead, save October 10 too. World Mental Health Day is also the day early registration opens for The Ride for Mental Health 2027.

Before the new month begins, what would you like to make more room for?

09/21/2026

Having something to look forward to doesn’t have to mean counting down to a vacation or a big event. A small, recurring plan can give an ordinary week a bright spot too.

For The Ride for Mental Health community, one of those plans happens every Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. ET. Our weekly Zwift ride is a chance to get on the bike, spend some time with other riders, and start the morning doing something you enjoy before the rest of the day takes over.

There’s no weather to work around and no group ride to organize. Tuesday comes around, the ride is there, and so is a community ready to share some miles.

Give yourself something to look forward to tomorrow morning. We’ll see you on Zwift at 6:45 a.m. ET.

🔗 Join our Club: https://bit.ly/46VkGBn

09/18/2026

Don’t let your social life go into hibernation just because your cycling routine starts to change.

During summer, staying connected can happen almost automatically through group rides, weekend miles, and spontaneous plans. Fall can change that rhythm. Shorter days, cooler weather, and shifting schedules can mean fewer rides and fewer opportunities to spend time with the people you normally see on two wheels.

Social connection is an important part of mental well-being, so think about how you’ll maintain those relationships as your routine changes. Keep a weekend ride on the calendar, meet your cycling friends for coffee, check in with someone you haven’t seen lately, or take some of those miles indoors.

The Ride for Mental Health community rides together on Zwift every Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. ET, giving us a way to stay connected throughout the year.

The seasons change. There are still plenty of ways to keep riding together.

🔗 Join our Zwift Group: https://bit.ly/4hghjte

Address

New Paltz, NY
12561

Website

https://www.rideformentalhealth.org/

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