Be a Mental Health Ally

Tags

acceptance, advocate, ally, belonging, biological, connection, environmental, friend, healing, hope, hopeless, life, love, mental health, mental health awareness, mental illness, normal, psychological, strength, suicide awareness, suicide prevention

All lives matter so please don’t misconstrue this post. Here you see celebrities that died by suicide – it’s tragic, there’s no denying it. These sweet souls were loved and admired by millions. They lit up the world with their gifts, talents, humor, bubbly personalities, and joy. To the outside world, their lives often looked enviable – filled with fame and fortune. Internally, their struggles felt too significant, too permanent, and too hopeless to overcome.

On a regular basis, we come across people in our daily lives feeling this same way. People we work with, people we see at the store, friends and acquaintances that appear perfectly content on social media, students in our schools, and loved ones in our own homes.

Life is hard and circumstances can feel insurmountable. Even the bravest, bubbliest, brightest, most resilient people have a breaking point.

There is no shame in asking for help or support. We all need connection, compassion, and a sense of purpose and belonging. In fact, a genuine connection with someone provides a powerful source of protection.

It’s been said a million times before, but it’s always worth repeating…be kind, be accepting, stop judging and start listening.

Recognize that mental illness is indeed a legit illness. It requires attention, treatment, and care like any other “normal” injury, illness or disease. There’s nothing disgraceful or embarrassing about depression, anxiety or other mental health disorders. People don’t willingly choose mental illness. It often occurs from biological, psychological, and environmental factors out of their control.

Choose to be a friend, advocate, and mental health ally by:

Fighting the stigma.

Asking how you can help.

Listening with empathy.

Knowing the warning signs so you can recognize them.

Being mindful of your words and potential preconceived notions.

Creating a safe, accepting, and non-judgmental space for others.

Sharing your story and your struggles.

Taking care of your own mental health.

Every suicide is a tragedy. We can work to prevent another.