May is National Mental Health Month
And i had to spotlight how important acknowledging our mental health is. In the Latin culture – many struggle with Mental health and no one talks about it (whisper) Its the loneliest struggle and it doesn’t have to be. We turn to alcohol and drugs to COPE! Thats what happened to me! We (and by WE I MEAN – LGTBQ+, Introverts, Extroverts, Women, black brown ) WE overthink and over analyse EVERYTHING. We constantly feel NOT ENOUGH OR NOT WORTHY – This constant hamster wheel of bad thoughts and limiting beliefs sent me into a tailspin. And thoughts of Suicide came soon after.
Why do we suffer in silence?? Why is it not ok to ask for help? Now … lets talk LGBTQ+ We are held down – marginalized, many of us are shunned by our own families. We minimize our struggles because they must not be real!!? I’m different enough as LGBTQ+ i dont want to be even more needy!!
NO!! People are dying daily. Suicide is prevelent in our community and many times its someone untreated & DESPERATE. How AWFUL are the thoughts that the only way out is to end your life??
If you or a friend is struggling with mental health, please remember you matter, you are not alone, and there are resources for support available for you, SO WHAT CAN WE DO??
Trevor Project – Or Trans LifeLine – I’m obsessed with Born This way and their mission.
Born This Way Foundation, co-founded and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, supports the mental health of young people and works with them to build a kinder and braver world. The Foundation aims to make kindness cool, validate the emotions of young people, and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. Learn how the Foundation encourages people to practice kindness toward themselves and their communities through its website bornthisway.foundation and its storytelling platform Channel Kindness at channelkindness.org.
Learn about and take the Be There Certificate, a new, free online mental health course, available in English, French, and Spanish, that offers a simple, actionable framework teaching US how to recognize when someone might be struggling, understand their role in supporting that person, and learn how to connect them to the help they need and deserve. The **Be There Certificate is mental health education for all!
I also like – This Is My Brave is an organization that uses storytelling to save lives. Folks can access hundreds of stories on their website, or submit their own stories to connect to a community dedicated to bringing painful, dark stories about mental illness and addiction to light. – Part of spreading awareness means sharing your story and your experiences in a safe way. That can help so many. So share your stories. Be a walking billboard of getting through darkness because we’ve all been there right??
Use your time, talents, or financial means to support a mental health organization! Whether you want to donate to a national nonprofit or support a community member affected by mental illness through a mutual aid fund, your assistance can make a difference.
Learning more about your own mental health can be one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself. Do this by taking an online mental health screening. You can use this opportunity to seek professional help (in the form of therapy), journal about your feelings, or connect with a loved one who may also have experience with a certain mental health condition. (me)
Lets talk about some good news SOMETIMES !!! Good news, the world is full of it! Take it from me, we’re a news media company – I literally cry at least once a week because of hateful stories against our community – that i have to help REPORT. SO CELEBRATE GOOD NEWS!
When we fill our brains with reminders that there’s lots of good in the world, it helps us feel more hopeful about the future and encourages us to be a part of creating that better future.
SO when you’ve found good news — make sure you share it with others too!
I HOPE SOME OF THESE IDEAS HELP IN SOME WAY – REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT ALONE –
