1 in 5: A Statistic That We Should Remember
In high school, I ran cross country. I suffered stifling hot sprint workouts and crippling three mile races because of the community my team provided me. One of my teammates was physically one of the most impressive people I have ever met. Once, after downing a whole carton of almond milk on the eve of a big race, she gracefully ran her hardest, the look of determination on her face never wavering. She was beautiful and hilarious, and she walked through the halls with her head held high. And don’t even get me started on her dance moves. No words can do justice to how much her resolve and grit inspired me, or how her quirky mannerisms got everyone clutching their stomachs in fits of laughter on long bus rides from cross country meets.
This past summer, I got an unthinkable call. It was a balmy summer day when one of my teammates called to tell me that this crazy hilarious, talented girl had taken her own life.
The weeks following showed me who my extended family is: those mothers, neighbors, teachers, and coaches who grasped my shoulders and cried with my team, who vowed that nobody else would silently struggle like she did. This summer, I realized that the definition of family does not end with those who share your blood, live in your home, or attend family holidays with you. Sometimes, it is those people who are there when your world is breaking down or you feel like you cannot keep going.
It makes me sad that sometimes that it takes tragedy to realize the extent of your support system. This realization needs to began earlier, because mental health concerns affects every facet of our lives. According to National Alliance on Mental Health, one in five Americans have experienced a mental illness or battle with it daily. Whether that be nervousness bubbling in the stomach accompanying big crowds or unfamiliar faces, depression that blows in with the blistery winter winds, or nagging, biting thoughts of low self-worth and confidence, mental health concerns come in all shapes and sizes.
And they do not only affect those with the scars to “prove it,” the downtrodden, or the antisocial. Sometimes, it may be the person with the blissful smile, the brainiac destined for greatness, or that athlete, sprinting towards the finish line. Sometimes, I think it is important to step back and realize we are all carrying baggage and covering up scars with band aids that sometimes just do not stick. These insecurities, difficulties, and rough Monday mornings are what make us human, and being human is not something to be ashamed of.
Mental health is an issue that needs to be addressed every day. In classrooms, in conversations with family and friends, and in daily life, the stigma surrounding mental health needs to be erased. Everyone has something to share, some experience or perspective that makes you, you. These conversations can be catalyzing because they offer up shared experiences - those connections that can be solidified in the moments of weakness that ultimately make us stronger.
As finals rapidly approach, and the workload grows to seemingly insurmountable levels, it is important to take time to realize you do have a support system to grab some steaming hot chocolate with, and you can count on those people, the old and the new, who will jump at the chance of a Christmas movie marathon.
Asking for help should be seen as being brave enough to admit you are human.
And remember, you will never be alone.