After trying to take her own life, Beth learned one crucial message.

Beth Cooper will never forget her breaking point. Fresh out of a toxic relationship, she was spiralling to the lowest she'd felt.

Mental health has always been a big part of her life, after losing her dad to mental health struggles at just 10 months old. But last year brought a new level of pain.

"I just gave away all of my self-love and dignity and pride in myself in hopes of trying to get somebody else to see my worth," she tells Mamamia.

"It led me to a suicide attempt and self-medication with drugs and alcohol."

At the start of this year, Beth knew something needed to change. She wanted to get her power back.

"I knew I couldn't keep going on this journey. It's not what I'm destined for," she said.

Watch Mamamia discusses mental health. Post continues below.

On a whim, she signed up for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation in hopes of making it through the selection process to land her a spot in the New York City Marathon.

The only problem? Beth wasn't a runner. In fact, she hated running, so 42.2km sounded impossible.

The foundation takes 12 First Nations people under 30 and helps them train for the big day in November.

"To get into the program I had to do a 3km trial and I'm like, 'Oh my God, what're you signing up for? This is horrible'," Beth said.

But Beth knew she had something to prove to herself.

The hardest part of training was getting out the door.

"I kept saying to myself the training and the running isn't a punishment, it was a reward. How lucky am I to be living in this beautiful world and that I can use my legs to travel and go places," she said.

"Looking back at everything I've been through, this is easy. This is fun."

Beth ran the New York City Marathon with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. Image: Supplied.

One step at a time.

Last year on her birthday, Beth was sad, depressed and lonely. This year, she rang in her 30th by heading off to NYC.

On the big day, Beth reminded herself the run was bigger than herself.

"I was taking the last bits of energy to invest it back into myself to be the best version of myself for my sister's kids and me," she said.

"I had polaroids of my sister and the kids in my sports bra. Whenever I was in the hurtlocker and it was hard, I put my hand to my chest to where my heart is and kept thinking, 'Remember why you're doing it'."

Each step she took forward was for them and the person Beth knew she could become.

"As a First Nation's lady, there is a lot of stuff that mob have to deal with, like intergenerational trauma. I'm really committed to breaking that cycle with my nieces and nephews and, in the future, if I have kids," she said.

"I've proven to myself there's nothing I can't do."

Training for the marathon helped Beth fall in love with herself again. Image: Supplied.

While gruelling, the journey helped Beth find her spark again.

"I'm so joyful and at peace. Going through that hard time last year and just being so proud of myself now, it just feels so powerful," she said.

"Last year I didn't really care about anything, myself. But even when it feels like the world is giving up on you, don't give up on yourself.

"Hope is such a powerful feeling. It can get you through the hardest times. Lean into that. When people around you are offering you love and support don't be afraid to take it.

"You are worthy."

Feature image: Supplied.