We can all talk about when any organ in our body is not functioning right and need medical attention. Yet, when the brain is affected, why are we still not able to talk about it? Is the brain not an organ? It is…and a critical one. Why is it still problematic to talk about mental health and truly understand it?
The stigmatization of mental health developed generations ago, but to eliminate that is long overdue. I have been advocating for mental health awareness since I was about 12 years old but started learning about it when I was 5. Crazy! How on earth did someone so young learn about this heavy topic that adults STILL cannot discuss?
I won’t go in-depth into my story on this page because of the severity and complexities, but I will share that mental health affects all individuals of all ages. It is not a phase, and an immediate stressor does not always cause it. Various factors play a role, and an outsider cannot tell someone what they’re thinking or how it affects them. People never tell the whole story, and that is usually due to the lack of support. Let me ask you when you need help; if you’re asking someone, do you tell the whole story?
This page is a safe space, and I will be sharing guides, resources, stories and incorporating all requests from others as they come. I hope that this page will help someone struggling with their mental health and help someone understand their loved one better over time. If you or anyone you know can benefit from this, please share this with them.
I do want to express that I am not a licensed professional for mental health. Anything I say on my site is not medical advice at all. Still, it is simply sharing my own experiences and opinions from medical professionals I have seen over the years. Everything else I will bring up about this subject will be either a personal anecdote or directly from the National Institute of Mental Health. I will share additional resources as necessary.
I know this topic will not be easy; however, the amount of help it can potentially provide is far more important and should be prioritized at all costs. I had to learn to live with mental health illnesses all on my own and from the age of 5. I learned how to do it alone, but no one should have to. I hope that with time, people that feel alone will come across this page, and I hope will feel that they won’t ever have to be alone again.
Remember, when confronting illness together, it becomes wellness. We are a community and will continue to support and empower one another. Thank you to all of you for becoming a part of this community.