Silver Livingston Laces Up for Mental Health: A 5K for the Hopeful & Hopeless Alike

Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with Strength, Sisterhood, and a Finish Line

Finishing the Race!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when voices across the globe rise together to shatter the silence, remove the stigma, and highlight the importance of mental well-being. For Silver Livingston, flight attendant and President of Sigma Kappa Psi Sorority, this month isn’t just a calendar event—it’s personal.

Silver stepped up—literally—and completed the Mental Health Awareness 5K and Festival, held in support of a cause close to her heart: "Flight Attendants Who Feel Hopeless." With over 1,000 participants gathered to walk, run, and raise awareness, Silver ran with purpose and pride. And though it had been seven years since her last race, she didn’t let that stop her.

“I know what it feels like when you spend so much time alone. I know what it feels like not having anyone to talk to when you just need a listening ear,” Silver shared. “But I found hope in my Sigma Kappa Psi Sorority sisters. I’m really NOT alone! And I knew if I could find hope in other women who are clearly going through similar experiences, I could find hope in MYSELF to finish a 5K race... even if it’s been 7 years since my last one!”

Her powerful testimony matched her performance. Silver crossed the finish line in 43:17, placing 670th out of 1,165 racers, and 80th out of 158 in her age/gender group. But this run wasn’t about ranking—it was about resilience, healing, and community.

Joining Silver at the event were her two children and her mother, Debra Johnson, one of Sigma Kappa Psi’s beloved founders, who participated in the Fun Run. Their collective presence was a beautiful reminder of the generational strength and family-first spirit that defines the sorority.

Why Mental Health Awareness Matters in Aviation

Mental health is vital for everyone—but for African American women in aviation, it comes with a unique set of challenges. Long-haul flights, time zone confusion, and emotional exhaustion are just the beginning. Many are also navigating life as single mothers, caregivers to aging parents, or entrepreneurs trying to build something meaningful while balancing a schedule that often feels anything but.

Flight attendants are trained to save lives midair, calm chaos at 30,000 feet, and look composed under pressure. But who takes care of them when the uniform comes off? That’s where Sigma Kappa Psi Sorority steps in—with sisterhood, support, and spaces that nurture the mental and emotional well-being of its members.

Silver's race is more than a run. It’s a movement—a signal to every flight attendant silently struggling that there’s strength in speaking up, beauty in vulnerability, and a community that truly gets it.

So this May, and every month after, let's remember: Mental health is not optional. It’s essential. And as Silver has shown us, even when you’re tired, even when the odds feel high—you can finish the race.

💚 Stay strong, stay hopeful, and never forget—you are never alone in the sky or on the ground. ✈️