Resources – Run for Jeev

Run for Jeev Foundation x Mosaics: Supporting Mental Health Care For All

The Run for Jeev Foundation is proud to donate $25,000 to the continuation of the Sanjeev Panja Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was created in collaboration with Mosaics, a 501c(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping members of the community navigate mental health and substance use recovery resources. Established in 2024, this program provides equitable access to mental health services for all. This donation will provide 15 individuals with long-term mental health care and support through Mosaics, care that they would otherwise not be able to access. Though it has been four years since the loss of Sanjeev, his memory continues to be a guiding light for our foundation, driving our commitment to creating tangible change in the conversation around mental health in our community.

Establishment of the Run for Jeev Foundation Scholarship

We are extremely excited to announce the initiation of the Run for Jeev Foundation Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship for high school seniors that show an active interest in bettering the perception and treatment of mental health in their community. Through this scholarship, we hope to encourage the younger generation to embrace the normalization of dialogue around mental health and implement positive change for mental health in their communities. The scholarship is open to current seniors (Class of 2024) at the Woodlands High School. Applicants must submit a 500 word essay about a mental health-focused service project or event that they would like to implement to benefit their community. All applications are due by April 8th. Submit your application here!

How We Engaged Our Community in Suicide Prevention Through Fundraising

Life for us turned upside down on Feb. 12, 2022. Our dear son Sanjeev Panja lost his life to suicide at the very tender age of 20. Sanjeev was caring, loving, funny, goofy, and an extremely motivated kid — always laughing and making others laugh. The pain and grief we are going through are unimaginable, and no parent should have to go through what we are going through. If it can happen to our family, it can happen to any other family. That was when we decided that we had to turn our pain into purpose, and found Active Minds, who helped us engage our community thoughtfully in suicide prevention through fundraising. https://www.activeminds.org/blog/how-we-engaged-our-community-in-suicide-prevention-through-fundraising/

Suicide Rates

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults, ages 10-34 (CDC, 2022). 5% of adults ages 18-24 reported having seriously considered suicide in the past month. This is a higher percentage than any other adult age group (CDC, 2020). 8% of high school students reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year. This percentage is higher among females (24.1%), and lesbian, gay, or bisexual teens (46.8%) (CDC, 2020). 9% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year. This percentage is highest among females (11.0%), black teens (11.8%), and lesbian, gay, or bisexual teens (23.4%) (CDC, 2020).

Mental Health Statistics

1 in 3 (30.6%) young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 experienced a mental, behavioral, or emotional health issue in the past year (SAMHSA, 2021). 9% of teens ages 12-17 have one or more mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems (NSCH, 2019). 7% of high school students reported feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. This percentage is higher for females (46.6%), Hispanic students (40.0%), and lesbian, gay or bisexual students (66.3%) (CDC, 2020). Among college students, 29.1% have been diagnosed with anxiety and 23.6% have been diagnosed with depression

Exercise and Yoga for Improving Mental Health

There are several tools to treat and manage mental health issues. It could be anxiety, depression or coping with stress of grief. To us exercise and Yoga has played a crucial role in helping us stay above the water and face each day amidst excruciating grief. We at the Run For Jeev Foundation want to actively promote the role of exercise, Yoga and medication for managing our day to day stress and help us have a healthy mind. Here are some important links. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495 https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm https://health.gov/news/202112/physical-activity-good-mind-and-body https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/11/09/1135211525/anxiety-medication-meditation-lexapro https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/10/22/656594050/a-new-prescription-for-depression-join-a-team-and-get-sweaty https://www.youtube.com/c/runyogidiaries