As Southampton gets ready for its 11th Race of Hope on August 2, the event highlights community spirit and serves as a rallying point in the fight against mental health stigma. Supporting the Hope For Depression Research Foundation, which marks its 20th year, the event has shifted the conversation about depression and attracts over 1,000 participants annually to raise awareness and funds for important research. We talked with HFDR founder Audrey Gruss to learn more.
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, which you founded in memory of your mother, Hope. Can you tell us about your mission to accelerate research and raise awareness of depression as a medical illness?
Hope for Depression Research Foundation exists to spur the most innovative neuroscience research into the origins, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of depression and its related mood disorders, including postpartum depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
For two decades, HDRF has been a trailblazer in the field. It is home to the Depression Task Force, an outstanding collaboration of top neuroscientists from different universities who are pooling expertise and data to accelerate discovery.
Our scientific mission is urgent. Since the introduction of Prozac (the first SSRI) in 1985, there has been little progress in the treatment of depression — only variations of the same SSRI formula. Yet only 50% of patients respond to the existing medications.
Also important is our work to raise awareness of depression as a medical illness and to educate the public about the facts of depression. We educate and inform in order to reduce the stigma that still surrounds depression.
What are some of the biggest milestones you’ve achieved over the past 20 years?
This year, HDRF finds itself at a genuinely different moment in depression research. Our Depression Task Force of top scientists has been working together as a single unit, collaborating across multiple institutions, and sharing data in a way that has set the bar for the field. We have targets for treatment in the brain that nobody had identified ten years ago, and we are now confirming the targets in early human studies at Mount Sinai, Columbia, Weill Cornell, and Max Planck Institute in Germany.
This move to test new treatments in humans marks significant progress in a field that has seen few advances in drug discovery over the past forty years.
HDRF has also become a local force for mental health advocacy on the East End. Last year’s Southampton Race of Hope drew more than 1,100 participants and raised over $500,000 for depression research.
Leading up to the Race, we host our annual Week of Hope in Southampton, a village-wide mental health awareness campaign featuring yellow HOPE flags displayed by local businesses. The week also includes our Summer Seminar and Luncheon, which this year features psychologist Michael Pantalon discussing “How to Inspire Healthy Change in Yourself and Your Loved Ones.”
Our annual HOPE Luncheon Seminar in New York City brings mental health to the forefront through science, storytelling, and advocacy. Last Fall, we honored Audra McDonald, joining past honorees including Mariska Hargitay, Dakota Johnson, Michael Phelps, and Brooke Shields.
How has the conversation around depression and mental health changed over the past two decades?
The conversation around depression has changed dramatically. Today, more people are willing to share their experiences and discuss the impact of mental illness on their lives. Younger generations are helping break down stigma through HDRF’s Junior Committees, while celebrities and public figures are speaking openly about their experience with depression. Together, these voices have raised awareness and sparked life-saving conversations around mental health.
What are you most excited about for this year’s Race of Hope in Southampton? Could you share how the Southampton community has supported the foundation over the years?
I’m most excited to see the faces of runners as they cross the finish line. Every participant has a personal reason for being there, whether it’s their own experience with depression or supporting a loved one.
Since Southampton is where our Race of Hope began, it’s especially meaningful to see the community return each year as the event continues to grow. Families, professional runners, casual walkers, and corporate teams all continue to show up to raise awareness and support the groundbreaking work of our Depression Task Force. Dogs and babies are welcome too!
It’s also wonderful to welcome public figures who help amplify our message of hope. Past Grand Marshals have included Alexa Ray Joel, Katie Couric, and Brooke Shields’ daughter, Grier Henchy.
What are your goals and ambitions for the future of the Race of Hope and the HDRF?
On the research side, our key goals are to develop new and more effective treatments for the millions of people who do not respond to existing antidepressants, deepen our understanding of the biological causes of depression, and ultimately establish objective, science-based diagnostic tools for the illness.
My vision is to expand the Race of Hope series to major cities across the country, raising awareness, building community, and spreading hope in the fight against depression.
Learn more about the Hope for Depression Research Foundation and the Race of Hope by visiting hopefordepression.org and southampton.raceofhopeseries.com.
