Beacon Health Options 'Spokes' Men and Women Ride Again for Mental Health Awareness: 6 Days...11 Cities

BOSTON, Oct. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 3, Beacon Health Options (Beacon) employees, friends and family will embark on the second annual Awesome Beacon Bike Ride, a charity ride that takes place in 11 cities across the country where Beacon offices are located. These bike rides will coincide with the National Alliance on Mental Illness's (NAMI) Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 1-7, and will help raise awareness about the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorder.

Beacon will host rides in the following cities: Latham, NY (Oct.3); Cypress, Calif. (Oct. 4); Raleigh/Durham, NC (Oct. 4); Reston, Va. (Oct. 4); Seattle, Wash. (Oct. 5); Chicago, Ill. (Oct. 6); Colorado Springs, Colo. (Oct. 6); Boston, Mass. (Oct. 7); Miami, Fla. (Oct. 7); Rocky Hill, Conn. (Oct. 7); and Virginia Beach, Va. (Oct. 7) 

"We ride to promote camaraderie, advocacy and health at work, at home and in the community," said Beacon's Regional Chief Partnership Officer for the Northeast, Emma Stanton, MD, and the ride's lead organizer. "These principles unite all of us at Beacon and those individuals affected by behavioral health and substance use conditions. We are committed to raising awareness about the stigma of mental illness and addiction, and this is one more way that we can show it."

Beacon will direct all funds raised from the bike rides to NAMI and Mental Health America (MHA), both of which are nationally recognized for their mental health services and advocacy.

"Beacon is proud to support the important work of NAMI and MHA. They have championed the rights and needs of individuals with mental illness for nearly 150 years, combined," said Beacon Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Jay Curley. "Last year's ride was a big success, and our staff wanted another opportunity to raise funds for education and support programs that make a difference in the lives of those we serve. The Awesome Beacon Bike Ride unites cyclists and volunteers in their commitment to helping our members and others who are on the road to recovery."

To follow the #BeaconBikeRide throughout the week, visit Beacon's Facebook event page or Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/beaconhealthopt.

To contribute to this year's Awesome Bike Ride, please use the following PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/donate.

About NAMI
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, support and research, and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope.

About MHA
Mental Health America (MHA) ? founded in 1909 ? is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to helping Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. MHA's work is driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated health, behavioral health and other services for those who need them, and recovery as a goal.

About Beacon Health Options
Beacon Health Options is a managed behavioral health care company that serves 50 million individuals across all 50 states. On behalf of employers, health plans and government agencies, we manage behavioral health insurance and EAP benefits to ensure that individuals have access to robust mental health and addiction services. To promote quality care, Beacon works with its provider partners to design innovative programs and solutions that directly address the challenges our behavioral healthcare system faces today. Beacon is a national leader in the fields of mental and emotional well-being, addiction, recovery and resilience, employee assistance, and wellness. Partnering with a network of providers nationwide, we help individuals live their lives to the fullest potential.

For more information, visit www.beaconhealthoptions.com or connect with us www.facebook.com/beaconhealthoptions, www.twitter.com/beaconhealthopt and www.linkedin.com/company/beacon-health-options.

SOURCE Beacon Health Options