Knock out stigma surrounding mental health

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a local boxing club is doing its part to help battle the stigma surrounding mental health.

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Action News Jax reporter Jimmy Marlow spoke with the owner, a coach, and participants of a boxing class at “TITLE Boxing Club” that is focused on mental health. Title Boxing Club has training classes of all varieties every day of the week. While the workout is physically taxing, the owner of the Beach Boulevard location, Henry Mendez, says it’s meant to be a mental and emotional outlet.

“We all have something that we are working through, or struggling with, or know someone that may be, and we don’t know how to help them,” Mendez said. “This put in the forefront, just come, and let it out on the bag.”

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Coach Stuart Walski “pulls no punches” as he guides his classes. It’s the definition of “mind over matter.” All you must do is focus on pushing your body and let your mind be free. He says to use whatever “mental fuel” suits you best.

Coach Walaki put his training style in context by explaining, “Is your brain tired or is your body tired? I hope they use that all the time when they are out there. If you’re sitting in traffic and you’re mad, it’s not that bad. I just did a 45-minute workout, and I was dying, smile it’s going to be okay.”

Cynthia Simon is a personal trainer and says that when she goes to work out at TITLE Boxing Club. She only has to rely on their coaches for guidance, while she focuses on relieving stress.

She told Marlow, “It is absolutely necessary for my mental health, when I come here, I don’t have to be in charge, I just have to follow directions, I can calm down and hit the bag hard, when I leave have so many endorphins.”

Russel Adams is a 76-year-old Marine corps veteran. He started going to TITLE Boxing Club as a way to cope with depression and for mind/body connection that helps with his coordination. He says the workout helps him stay active.

“I want to fight to stay healthy, I’m not going to give up, it’s just who I am, and I don’t know any other way to live,” Adams said.

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On Sat., May 20 TITLE Boxing Club is hosting an event called knock out stigma. For every person that participates nationwide they will donate $1 to “Bring Change 2 Mind,” a mental health advocacy group. If you would like to donate directly, click here.