Today is a day we’re supposed to, as part of a marketing campaign ultimately aimed at making money for their own personal interest, talk about a still taboo subject that cracks upon the depths of a soul. Mental illness. That word feels so far away from me now, though it was only 4 years ago, to the day, that I was newly engaged. One might compare my symptoms to hysteria or a manic high, otherwise known in my case as a mentally healthy human as pure, naive, fairytale-like love. Little did I know how my life would unravel in the coming months. My denial of reality, but mostly my lack of education around mental illness was the true culprit to the downward spiral I experienced. I witnessed first hand what untreated and poorly treated mental illness not only does to a person, but to everyone around them. To their home, to their environment, to their systems, to their world. My experience is but one of millions people experience everyday. Every single day I know there are women and men out there going through a similar experience I did. Every single day people lose the battle to mental illness. Every single day people are berated from friends, family and loves ones who are uneducated and underprepared on how to support them. Every. Single. Day. If there is but one thing I ask every one of you today, it is to educate yourself. For those who suffer, educate yourself on how you can let others know what you need. Formulate a plan with your support team so they can see the signs and symptoms of when you are not okay and what they need to do to truly help you. For those who don’t suffer, educate! Educate yourselves on how to hold space and support those in your life who struggle. Educate so you can have awareness for others and for yourself. Take charge of your part in a future where this is no longer taboo, where we don’t have to have a special day, week or month dedicated to this to attempt to raise more awareness. Contribute to a future where everyone is aware, educated, and supportive. The only way out is through, together.
I felt called to do this episode, in an effort of transparency and vulnerability on my part. I have an intimate relationship with mental health, that did not start within. I am now a firm advocate of mental wellness all around, whether you struggle with unresolved trauma or not. 2020 saw many people, some I know, transition out of this world. Now more than ever the transparency is needed to cultivate supportive environments for all of us and whatever we are moving through. I wanted to be able to connect with all of us who have suffered on and off the block, and to hopefully inspire all of us to ask for a little more help now and again. My poetry book is the child of all my grief, channeled into my worded experiences. I put it out to all of you so these words can reach you, and find your own experiences within them.
LINKS
To purchase a copy of my poetry book, This is for me: https://www.blurb.ca/b/10505733-this-is-for-me
iBook link: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/this-is-for-me/id1545866424
The WRAP program I did, its FREE: https://vancouver-fraser.cmha.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WRAP-Brochure.pdf
Another program for women of domestic abuse: https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/care-programs/mental-health/wrap
