The following are times where Jim was featured in, or mentioned in, a newspaper article or on television.
‘Stay, tomorrow needs you’: Suicide prevention event draws advocates to Stroudsburg church
Community members came together to spread awareness of suicide prevention and remember those lost to suicide at Christ Episcopal Church in Stroudsburg in early October.
Organized by Stroudsburg High School senior Jessica Brady, the event was held in honor of September’s Suicide Prevention Month — having been delayed due to weather — featuring speakers sharing their own personal experiences with the struggles of mental health issues.
A cause that is “near and dear” to her heart, Brady held a similar event in May, “and I think there’s a lot of good that came from that, so I just wanted to kind of give myself a chance to do it again.”
Having lived with anxiety and depression, and experienced suicidal ideation, Brady has thankfully improved, but she has seen other lives lost — “we’ve lost two drum majors within two-and-a-half, three years,” she said.
“So it’s something that’s really impacted the local community,” Brady said. “There’s been several suicides, both young kids and adults within Monroe County, throughout the past few years. I feel like it’s really something that everybody should care about. It’s really everybody’s issue, because it could be, you know, your friend or your brother or your neighbor. We need to take care of each other.”
Mental health crisis resources are available to Poconos, northeast PA residents
More coverage:Northeast Pa.’s youth are struggling with mental health, and the internet isn’t helping
‘No one can replace you’
According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States, with 45,979 victims in 2020 alone — about one death every eleven minutes. Beyond that, an estimated 12.2 million Americans though about suicide, 3.2 million planned a suicide, and 1.2 million attempted suicide in 2020.
Among those who took to the pulpit was Jim Shoopack, a teacher and coach who lost his own brother, Bob, to suicide in 2021, and has finished 21 marathons for mental health awareness. When Bob struggled with anxiety and panic attacks, physicians could find nothing wrong, leading him down a dark path which would eventually claim his life.Shoopack experienced a harrowing bout of depression following his family’s loss, noting “I contemplated taking my life every day… I couldn’t even leave my sofa at home…”
Through his own personal connections to faith and prayer — along with the love of his family, including his cats and dogs — Shoopack was able to make progress, attending therapy and taking medication, and sharing what he was going through with his family and friends.
“I think that’s just important, having support from your family, your friends, like you folks here,” Shoopack, standing alongside photos of his brother and a t-shirt from a fundraiser for suicide prevention alliance, said. “It’s nice to know that there’s other people out there that are there to support you, unfortunately, under the circumstances, in this case, but just realize, the best thing I could ever tell you is your life matters. No one can replace you, and the world is a better place because you yourself are in it.”
Hope Christman, social worker and political candidate for the 176th House district, spoke on the lack of accessibility for those struggling with mental health issues in northeastern Pennsylvania. Recalling the story of a student who had to travel to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area to obtain treatment for her mental health, Christman advocated for focused efforts to make mental health care more readily available.
“Look up your elected officials and see what they’re doing for mental health, and if you feel that they’re not doing enough, call them out,” Christman said. “Call them out, whether it is your state officials, whether it’s your federal officials, whether it’s your school board, call them out, make sure that they are serving you because that is their job… And that’s the only way we’re going to get anything done, is that we need to make them be held accountable to do their job.”
Pandemic’s impact on Poconos mental health
Jenny Collier noted the effects of COVID on mental health, and how it impacted groups who are often neglected, most notably senior citizens and children struggling with familial problems, encouraging the crowd “to really be aware of what’s going on around you, with your friends, with your family.”
Collier stressed that when a loved one comes to you with a problem, do not be dismissive or simply offer platitudes — truly listen and engage with them, and try and offer the sympathy they need.
“Don’t pat them on the back and say ‘everything’s going to be great,’ because that’s not how they feel right now,” Collier said. “They’re in that deep, dark hole, and they don’t see a ladder. You see 10 ladders — ‘What do you what do you mean, everything’s great!’ There’s no ladder for them, so you need to be there for them, you need to find that ladder and put it down for them.”
Speaking of her personal experience, Brady reflected on hitting a breaking point in the spring of 2021, when anxiety, depression, bullying, and stress from COVID came to a head and she was taken in for emergency mental health treatment, which she found shockingly inadequate.
“I was hospitalized. I was sent home. I ended up having to wait seven and a half months for treatment. This is with insurance, with a mom that does not back out very easily. It took me seven and a half months to get any kind of resolution, which, in my humble opinion is just completely stupid and unacceptable. Because mental health, it’s so crucial. It’s so important. And really, it can get to a point where somebody’s life is at risk.”
Editor’s column:Today’s social media platforms are a far cry from AOL, Myspace | Fontones
‘Stay, tomorrow needs you’
Brady added that her experience with Aevidum, a student club composed of “football players, and then the quiet kids and everybody in between” which functions as a safe place of support, has helped many young individuals empathize and look out for one another.
“Just be there for one another, because it really does make all the difference,” Brady said. “My (Aevidum) shirt here says ‘Stay, tomorrow needs you,’ and I always wear it to things like this because I think it’s the truth. You know, there’s always at least one person out there that won’t be the same if you’re gone. That’s a lesson I’ve had to learn; I know a lot of my friends and classmates have had to learn it.”
Tanya Paxson, who lost her son Thomas just a few months ago, emphasized the necessity for more resources and education for those suffering with suicidal ideation and depression, opening doors that could help to save lives.
“I wish I could go back and make sure Tom had the resources that may have helped him that night,” Paxson said. “So please, if you find yourself spiraling, the worst thing you can do is lock yourself in the dark. Turn on the lights, come out of your room, talk to someone, go for a walk. Call 988, the new suicide prevention hotline. Please, all of our tomorrows matter.”
Related:National mental health crisis line has call center in Poconos | Something to Think About
Teacher and coach Tamara Utess, Thomas Paxson’s aunt, discussed her own experience after losing her nephew, and the unexpected care she received from a class after they discovered what had happened.
“I had underestimated my seventh and eighth graders. I thought it was saving them by not telling his story. I was super wrong, it opened up a room of compassion, a room of understanding. It brought to light how others struggle, either themselves or their family members,” Utess said, adding that suicide is an epidemic and the public should “Make it personal because it is important, it’s worthy of our full attention.”
With a focus on making mental health resources available to those in need and to bring down the stigma of discussing suicide and spreading awareness, the efforts of Brady and the other speakers resonated throughout the church, reminding the community that, much like Aevidum preaches, they have got your back.
If you are feeling suicidal, or unsafe, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline which serves our nation’s Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. For texts, Veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.
A 24/7 mental health crisis hotline is also available to residents in Carbon, Pike and Monroe counties via Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental services: 570-992-0879.
View our list of mental health crisis resources for Pocono and northeast Pa. residents here: bit.ly/3ed5ZBF.
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Advocates for suicide awareness to hold vigil in Stroudburg’s Courthouse Square Monday
Brian Myszkowski
Pocono Record – May 28, 2022
A group of mental health advocates led by three Stroudsburg Area High School students will hold a vigil for suicide awareness at Courthouse Square this Memorial Day.
Students Gonzalo Ingram, Jessica Brady, and Bri Anunciacao organized the event, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday to honor those whose lives have been lost and affected by suicide.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming 47,500 lives in 2019.
Among younger to middle-aged individuals, it is even worse: suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 44. In 2019, 534 children between the ages of 10 and 14 committed suicide.
“Silence kills, to end the stigma of mental illness, we need to speak up and be heard,” Ingram said.
Brady, who has helped organize local rallies for Christian Hall and LGBTQ+ individuals in the recent past, called particular attention to the gap between how the community addresses mental health problems and how they view the individual suffering from them, only after disaster has occurred.
More:Grief, faith and anger: Christian Hall’s parents reflect on a year without their son
“Being suicidal is looked at as selfish and weak, but when someone finally collapses under the weight of depression and dies by suicide, it’s a tragedy,” Brady said. “This vigil isn’t serving a purpose to just honor the souls we’ve lost to suicide, but is also a desperate plea to fix our broken mental health system and the attitude that surrounds those who may be struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.”
Anunciacao noted that sympathy and empathy are incredibly necessary to prevent further suffering and loss.”Especially after recent tragedies, it’s important to honor the lives we’ve lost and show others that they’re loved and that they aren’t alone in fighting this.”
Joining the students will be local teacher, soccer coach and mental health advocate Jim Shoopack, who recently lost his brother to suicide.
“I think this is a very appropriate way to honor all lives affected by suicide, and considering that it’s Memorial Day, to open lines of communication with and to support our veterans, considering that 20 military veterans die by suicide per day,” Shoopack, who has completed 21 marathons for mental health awareness, said. “More needs to be done!”
In addition, long-time West End community organizer Hope Christman, currently running for state representative for the newly redrawn Pennsylvania House District 176, will be speaking.
The timing for the vigil further serves as an opportunity to show that anyone can be touched by mental health issues that can contribute to suicidal thoughts and actions.
According to a 2012 report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Services Suicide Prevention Program, 22 veterans commit suicide each day in United States. Organizations like The 22 Project, which fundraises, sponsors research and organizes awareness campaigns for suicide, are making strides to combat mental health issues among those soldiers through programs like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
Former U.S. Navy SEAL Nicolas Mancino, who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a car bomb explosion during his service that led to changes in his mental health. Once he got in touch with The 22 Project, Mancino was able to obtain assistance to help with his issues, potentially saving his life.
“Finding out that I had a TBI, it gave me closure in that part of my life, that I still am who I was before,” Mancino said. “The blast may have altered some things, some of the processes in my brain, and that I have to adjust. I was able to kind of control the negative aspects of it, and have an understanding and compassion for myself—understanding that I’m not a bad, this is just something that happened to me.”
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By Jared Acosta
June 3, 2022
www.poconoupdate.com
Community Rallies Together To Support Mental Health
Life can be very stressful and mental health is something some Americans struggle with while others may take it for granted.
On Monday, about sixty people gathered in Stroudsburg at courthouse square to promote mental health and suicide awareness. The crowd paid respects to a local young man whose life was tragically lost to suicide three weeks ago and all of those who suicide has affected in one form or another. Many opened up, sharing intimate details about their own struggles with mental health. Others came to listen and show their support. The rally was organized by three Stroudsburg High School students, senior Gonzalo Ingram, junior Jessica Brady, and sophomore Bri Anunciacao. The group felt compelled to take action and “be a voice for the voiceless” and end the stigma that accompanies mental health issues.
Joel Getz, Jim Shoopak, Jessica Brady, Hope Christman, Bri Anunciacao, Gonzalo Ingram, and Charles Stecker were among the evening’s speakers. Each gave their account of various traumas and obstacles they’ve personally faced and offered valuable insight about how to move forward. However, a common theme throughout the night was the difficulty each had in finding proper treatment and resources.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 4.1 million or 17% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 had one major depressive episode. Major depressive episodes were nearly three times higher among adolescent females (25.2%) than males (9.2%). In 2020, less than half (41.6%) of adolescents received the proper treatment.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020, there were at least 120,000 suicide attempts leading to 45,979 deaths, averaging more than 120 every day. Suicide is most prevalent among middle-aged white males. White males make up approximately 70% of suicides in the US.
Mental illness is a very serious issue, and finding treatment can often be very difficult. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Millions of Americans share similar difficulties, and many are here to listen.
If you or someone you know is dealing with depression or the loss of a loved one who died from suicide, there are resources available to you.
Teens facing depression or having suicidal thoughts are encouraged to contact Aevendum at clubs@aevidum.org or visit their website at http://aevidum.com/cms/.
Monroe County Suicide Hotline is available at 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) or (570) 992-0879.
Monroe County Suicide Prevention Taskforce can be reached at (570) 269-5710
Pocono Mountain Center-Human Services is available most days at (570) 424-9229.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1 (800) 273-8255
Keep up to date on Pocono news, art, and events by following us on the Newsbreak app.
Have a news tip? Report it to (570) 451-NEWS.
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Running Over Depression: A Monroe County Man’s Story
It’s “running season” right now, a time that people are participating in 5k races or busy training for fall marathons. One man from Monroe County is among them, but he’s not exactly training for time. He likes to say he’s running for his life.
Each year, in the fall, the Steamtown Marathon draws thousands of runners from all over to tackle the 26.2 mile course between Forest City and downtown Scranton. For the last seven or eight years–so many he can’t remember–42-year-old Jim Shoopack, a teacher from East Stroudsburg, has been one of them.
“In soccer when I played, I played goalie so I didn’t have to run all that much. Well lo and behold, God has a sense of humor because it’s now 26.2 at a clip!” Shoopack said.
How he got into running in the first place is what Jim wanted to talk about. Fifteen years ago, he says something changed out of the blue.
“I could snap at any moment. The littlest things would bother me. (I was) sad, sullen, thoughts of suicide,” Jim admits. And he kept those feelings in for months.
“How am I gonna tell somebody? There’s a stigma. Who do you talk to about this stuff?” he wondered.
He eventually found a doctor he trusted, who diagnosed him with depression. He says medication did work for him, but his doctor also had one more recommendation: exercise. So one step at a time, he started walking. The walk turned into a jog, and the jog turned into running a bit faster.
“One mile became two miles. Then I trained for a 5K.”
These days, Jim has his sights set on marathons.
“That’s why I want to do 100 marathons, to get back the 100 days I lost being depressed,” Jim told us.
As of today, he has run 21 marathons. With his wife’s support, he’s done four in just the last four months. One of his favorites? The Run for the Red in the Poconos, which is practically in his backyard. And his depression? It’s in check, which he attributes to lacing up those running shoes and hitting the pavement.
Shoopack started a website back in 2005. It’s www.runoverdepression.com. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram at Run Over Depression, and on Twitter @HelpYouOvercome.
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In 2014 Jim became a member of the “Marathon Maniacs,” which at minimum requires a person to complete three marathons within 90 days.
Furthermore, in 2019, while joined by his wife Shannah, Jim finished three half-marathons within 90 days to became a Half-Fanatic.
In joining both groups, Jim became a member in exclusive company – the Double Agent.
As according to “RunRepeat,” only 0.05% of Americans has finished a marathon, this is a humbly impressive accomplishment.
He runs 3 marathons to help ‘Run over Depression’
By THE MORNING CALL
PUBLISHED: May 27, 2014 at 4:00 a.m. | UPDATED: March 29, 2019 at 4:41 a.m.
To raise awareness of mental illness, Jim Shoopack is doing something that requires a rare level of mental toughness.
Shoopack, an East Stroudsburg native, plans to run three marathons in three months. He ran the Garden Spot Village marathon in New Holland in April. Next up is the Pocono “Run For the Red” marathon Sunday. Finally, he intends to take on the Xterra Big Elk Marathon in Elkton, Del. in June.
“As I turn 40 years old this year, I wanted to go into my 40s working toward a new challenge — something that I have never done before,” he said. “Participating in three marathons in three months to help promote mental health awareness was just the challenge I was looking for.”
Running a mile — let alone a marathon — was something that Shoopack would have thought to be out of the question back in 2001. That’s when he found himself plunged into the darkness of depression.
For three months, he suffered suicidal thoughts, developed a hair-trigger temper and a felt the need to sleep all day.
“During my worst days, just getting out of bed in the morning and taking that first step was my biggest accomplishment,” Shoopack said.
Then he met a friend who was had suffered from depression. That encounter led Shoopack to search for information about depression and what he found was “Check, check, check, every single [symptom] I have.”
He saw his doctor who prescribed medication and talk therapy. He got the counseling for a few months, but stayed on the medicine, Paxil, for about two years.
Buoyed by his recovery, Shoopack started to run like everybody else, one workout at a time. “One mile used to be a long distance for me,” he said. As with many runners, he soon found his pace, entering 5k races and then marathons.
In 2005, Shoopack decided to start Run Over Depression, his effort to raise awareness of depression and raise money for non-profits helping people with mental illness. It made sense to him, since he found a National Instiute of Mental Health statistic that 26.2 percent of all American adults will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. (And, of course, a marathon is 26.2 miles long.)
The race Sunday will be his 11th marathon. He’s got another goal — to run 100 marathons total.
He is — literally — well on his way.
themorningcall.com/healthblog
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poconorecord.com
by Paula Davco – May 1, 2006
Shoopack runs for many reasons
Marathon runner Jim Shoopack outside his home in East Stroudsburg Friday.
Everyone runs for different reasons, some people want to lose weight and get in shape while others just want an active hobby.
Thirty-one-year-old Jim Shoopack from Stroudsburg will agree that running has definitely helped him not only shed some pounds and get fit, but also helped him battle depression.
Just about five years ago Shoopack found himself unable to get out of bed some days. He felt the symptoms in March of 2001 and some friends encouraged him to get help. He researched it on the Internet and found that he indeed suffered from depression and needed help as soon as possible.
After talking with his doctor and being put on anti-depressants, Shoopack decided he needed some sort of productive activity to keep his mind off of things.
“I overcame depression through running. It’s been my new anti-depressant,” he said.
One of his main goals when he started running marathons was to prove to people that he took action and did overcome depression.
He has been running for five years now and has competed in five marathons and will be competing in the Pocono Mountains Run for the Red Marathon Sunday.
“I’ve been able to do the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, Nittany Valley Half Marathon in State College, and the Philly Marathon. But I’ve been looking for a spring marathon to run,” Shoopack said.
Shoopack is the founder of the Web site www.runoverdepression.com. The Web site encourages people to compete in marathons and also helps people suffering with depression and mental illnesses to feel better, make communities aware of the illness, remove the stigma behind mental illnesses and depression and to raise money for non-profit organizations.
He is also a motivational speaker, and just recently gave a speech at the Aardvark Sports Shop in Stroudsburg about how running helped him overcome depression.
Shoopack finds himself being in the best shape of his life.
“I used to be 210 pounds and now I’m about 170, and I will get down to 160. I’ve lost a lot of weight,” Shoopack said. “I feel so much better after a good run. The more I run the better I feel. You have to want to feel better to do anything positive.”
Shoopack lived in Stroudsburg his whole life and went to Stroudsburg High School. He went on to earn a degree in communications and a masters in sports management at ESU.
Despite his asthma, Shoopack still enjoys running.
“Sometimes in the winter if it’s really cold out I won’t run, but recently I’ve been running about three to four days a week,” Shoopack said. “It really depends. I would say I run about three to five miles on average. Longer distance runs are between 10 to 20 miles.”
Besides running Shoopack also enjoys soccer, which is his favorite sport. He also does some weight training, biking and hiking as well. He also runs in 5K marathons, and is going to compete in the Rochester Marathon in New York this summer.
“My niece is going to be born in July, so I want to run in her honor,” Shoopack said. “I also plan on doing the Scranton Marathon again and plan on applying for the New York Marathon.”
Shoopack said the New York Marathon accepts 35,000 people, but there’s more than twice that in applicants.
Shoopack said he isn’t going to break any records any time soon and plans on walking some of the marathon.
“I have more of a sprinters body,” Shoopack explained. “I enjoy the scenery. My best time is 5 hours 14 minutes, so if that’s any indication as to how much I enjoy the scenery.”
Before competing Shoopack said he will eat two power bars and prefers the Snickers Marathon bars and will also drink a few cups of coffee.
“Then I will just get mentally prepared and focus on the run itself, and probably take some advil,” he said.
Shoopack’s good friend Kelly Fitzgerald will also be running alongside him in her first marathon. They met in grad school, and she had a friend who committed suicide, so she will be running in her honor.
Both Shoopack and Fitzgerald will be raising money for Hopeline, a suicide prevention hot line based out of Alexandria, Va., as well as to promote Shoopack’s Web site.
The 26.2 mile race will begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday. The race will start in Tobyhanna and end in Stroudsburg. Buses will leave the football stadium at Stroudsburg High School at 6:30 a.m. to take the runners to the starting line.
For more information on the Pocono Marathon visit www.poconomarathon.org or to find out more about Shoopack visit www.runoverdepression.com.
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Running for his life
By THE MORNING CALL
PUBLISHED: March 28, 2006 at 5:00 a.m. | UPDATED: October 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
Just planting his feet on the floor and standing up in the morning was a struggle for Jim Shoopack during his first bout of severe depression. “I’d wake up and think, ‘How many more hours until I can go back to bed?’ ” he recalls.
These days, the 31-year-old Stroudsburg man is no longer fighting to stay upright. He’s running marathons and offering himself as living proof that exercise can help cure depression.
“After a run, I feel almost euphoric,” Shoopack says. “It’s the complete opposite of how I felt when I was depressed, and it’s one of the reasons I keep running because I want to feel that way more often.”
Shoopack first turned to antidepressants and talk therapy to fight his depression, which he says came out of the blue and may have been related to the fact that he suffers from epilepsy, a neurological condition. Researchers believe people with epilepsy are more susceptible to depression.
Later, Shoopack began to research different ways of treating mental illness. He became intrigued by the idea of using exercise to release some of the brain’s natural mood enhancers, such as serotonin and dopamine. He weaned himself off the medication and started running a mile at a time. Not long after he started, he noticed that he always felt more optimistic after a run. Soon, he was hooked.
Shoopack’s story is not surprising to Ian Birky, a sport psychologist and director of counseling and psychological services at Lehigh University. “It’s very well-documented, especially in cases of mild to moderate depression that exercise is as good as any other treatment and possibly the best treatment to start with,” Birky says.
In addition to increasing the amount of “feel good” chemicals in the brain, exercise brings some balance to what Birky refers to as the body-brain equation. For centuries, he says, we used our bodies and brains together – to fetch water, build houses, catch food. These days, especially in western culture, we spend most of our day just using our brains. Giving our heads a rest, he says, and using our bodies for what they’re designed to do, namely move, can help us achieve a better sense of equilibrium.
You don’t have to be a long-distance runner, either, to achieve the mental health aspects of exercise, Birky says. Any type of physical movement for a minimum of 35 minutes a day will suffice.
For Shoopack, though, marathon running is his therapy of choice. He ran his first 26-mile race, the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, last fall. He has since run the Philadelphia Marathon and the Nittany Valley Half-Marathon in State College and plans to run in the inaugural Pocono Marathon on May 7.
Shoopack doesn’t just run for himself but to increase awareness of the issues he cares about. At the Pocono Marathon, he’ll be wearing a T-shirt advertising his Web site: www.
runoverdepression.com, which has information on the disease, his love for running and links to mental health organizations. He is also hoping to raise money, which he wants to donate to Hopeline, a suicide hotline, by having people sponsor him in the race Finally, he will speak about his experiences at the Aardvark Sports Shop in Stroudsburg next month.
“I feel like God gave me another chance,” Shoopack says, “and I need to honor that through my running and by speaking out on my own experience with depression.”
Nancy Averett is a freelance writer.
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Marathoner is on the run for mental health
ANDREW SCOTT
News and Business Editor
www.poconorecord.com
November 16, 2005
With his cheerful, upbeat manner and tendency to laugh louder (even at the least amusing jokes) and smile longer, Jim Shoopack might seem like the exact opposite of the definition of depression.
But there was a time when the 31-year-old, lifelong Stroudsburg resident found it hard to even get out of bed in the morning.
“It was almost like someone pushed out the old Jim Shoopack and replaced me with this sullen stranger who didn’t want to do anything,” says Shoopack, the youth activities coordinator at St. Luke’s Church in Stroudsburg and a community volunteer soccer coach.
That’s why he’ll be running to help raise mental health awareness in Sunday’s 26.1-mile Philadelphia marathon.
“The stigma of mental problems like depression needs to be removed,” says Shoopack, who is running with two other Monroe County residents in the marathon and will be wearing a mental health awareness T-shirt and wrist bands.
“We know now that depression can lead to suicide,” he says. “Yet people suffering from these problems are afraid to come forward, because of that stigma, when they should be getting help.”
Other common mental problems include anxiety, dementia, Tourette syndrome and various eating, developmental, behavioral, psychotic and personality disorders.
The Stroudsburg High School and East Stroudsburg University graduate started experiencing symptoms of depression, caused by a chemical imbalance in the body, in March 2001.
“I started feeling not myself,” he says. “I had no self-esteem. The slightest thing would put me on edge and cause me to yell at people. This went on for a couple of months.”
Urged by friends, Shoopack began researching his symptoms and found they were linked to depression.
“It was encouraging to finally find a name for what was bothering me and know there was something I could do about it,” he says.
Shoopack began seeing a doctor, who prescribed an anti-depressant.
“I also have a supportive family and friends,” he says. “When I was feeling down, they would say, &
“Come on over and let’s watch a movie,’ or
“Let’s go out for ice cream.’ The important thing is to keep yourself occupied.”
So, Shoopack began running.
“It’s funny because the last person my high school coaches would have expected to finish a marathon was me,” he says, laughing.
But he ran his first race, 3.1 miles, through Delaware Water Gap in the fall of 2002 and, since then, has run three 26.2-mile marathons from Scranton.
“It’s a rush,” says Shoopack, who runs to a CD compilation of motivating songs such as “Beautiful Day” by U2. “You hit that 20th mile and find you’re still alive and you tell yourself, “;I can do this.’
“I’d rather run 100 consecutive marathons than go through another bout of depression,” he says. “It’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy if I had enemies.”
Adding that he’s now been off anti-depressant medication for two years, Shoopack says he looks to other inspirational sources to keep his depression at bay.
“Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill are two people I admire the most,” he says. “They turned out to be great leaders despite having depression.”
Other depression and mental illness survivors include former first lady Barbara Bush, Queen Elizabeth, actor Harrison Ford, singer Janet Jackson, activist Tipper Gore, journalist Mike Wallace and astronaut Buzz Aldrin, according to a pamphlet published by The Advocacy Alliance in Scranton and the Kristin Brooks Hope Center in Alexandria, Va., both mental health support agencies.
Shoopack has found inspiration also in missionary visits to poor communities in Latin America and other regions.
“Conditions are so destitute for people there and yet they’re grateful to be alive, despite having tin roofs over their heads and having to walk three miles to school every day,” says the son of a Colombian mother and Ukrainian father. “They’ve taught me that family, friends and faith are all you really need, though being able to live comfortably is certainly a plus.”
Joining Shoopack in Sunday’s marathon are fellow church members and Stroudsburg High School graduates Jesse Gormley, 18, of Hamilton Township, and Gary Lewis, 20, of Stroud Township.
“This will actually be my third time in the Philadelphia marathon,” says Gormley, an architectural engineering major at Drexel University in Philadelphia. “This hits home for me because someone in my family was recently diagnosed with depression.”
Gormley, a former high school track athlete, has been running since age 9.
“Jim got me into marathons,” says Lewis, a Northampton Community College student. “It’s addicting. After you finish running one, you just want to keep doing it. It’s even more worth it when you’re doing it for a cause. The word needs to get out about mental illness.”
The National Hopeline Network suicide hotline is (800) 784-2433 and its Web site is www.hopeline.com. Shoopack is trying to start his own site at www.runoverdepression.com.
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