Mental health is not a taboo subject to talk about.
Discussion surrounding this topic has evolved immensely over the years, for which I am incredibly grateful.
That being said, stigma still exists. And it is everywhere.
Even though we have opened conversations around mental health, I continue to see a lot of conversations insinuating that people who struggle with mental health issues are weaker than others.
This could not be further from the truth, because the strongest person I knew was my friend Amber.
When I tell people who never met Amber what she was like, the best way that I can describe her is akin to sunshine personified.
She was the happiest, bubbliest, kindest person I have ever met in my life. She was so nice to everyone she knew, no matter who they were. She inspired me to be kind to everyone, regardless of who they were.
I miss her dearly.
I am forever grateful for the fact that I knew her and got to share part of my life with her.
In her memory, I urge you to do two things.
Firstly, take care of one another. Check in, send the text, make the call, ask the hard questions. Do not be afraid of being “cringe”.
Mental health does not discriminate. The happiest person you know might be the one struggling the most.
We all need to take care of each other. We need to love each other. We need to not be afraid to have hard conversations, even if we don’t want to, or we feel uncomfortable doing it.
Beyond that, continue the conversation. Help break the stigma.
Amber is one of the strongest people I knew. Nothing about her experience can be described using the word weakness.
We need to change the narrative that struggling with your mental health means something is wrong with you. Or that you aren’t strong enough.
There is nothing weak about fighting that fight. It takes immense effort and strength to get through the days, both good and bad.
The continuation of conversations surrounding mental health will only continue to open opportunities for those in need to access the resources they need.
We must continue to be open and honest about mental health to support those around us.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Spending the month highlighting this topic, recognizing those who have been affected by suicide, who have struggled with suicidal thoughts and focusing on connecting those in need with resources is an imperative for breaking stigma and helping those who are struggling.
That does not mean that this should be contained to one month only.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023.
That is equivalent to one death every 11 minutes.
There needs to be a change made in how we think about and handle mental health. That change begins with you and me.
We need to talk to each other, care for each other, be there when it is hard and when it is good.
So, I beg of you, please educate yourself. Educate others when you can. Stand up against the idea that mental health is something to turn a blind eye to.
If you are struggling, please know that you are not alone. You are important, you matter and you are loved. I and so many others stand behind you with support, love and dedication to helping you.
If you are struggling and in need of support, the national mental health hotline can be dialed at 988.
The Personal Counseling Center is available to provide students free support in times of need as well. Appointments can be made at 231-591-5968.