In honor of suicide awareness month enjoy this article reminding you to speak up. We love you, sis.
Mental health is a serious topic of conversation, and many people feel as though it is someone else’s job to fix them or they have to fix themselves by themselves. However, neither is the case. If you suffer from a mental illness it is important to make sure you speak to a trained professional. Your friends are not your therapist and cannot give you accurate advice for dealing with your mental issues. You can actually be harmful to your friend’s mental health with your unsolicited problems, and you don’t want to dump anymore else onto anyone else’s plate.
Do not let that discourage you from speaking out, your friends may not be able to be your therapist, but they should be able to point you in the direction of a professional that can better assist you, healthy coping mechanisms, or group therapy; and if your friend tells you they want to listen, share. It is important to have a support system and feel heard when you have something important to say, so find someone to talk to who you know will listen. Many of your friends and family would rather listen to your issues than attend your funeral – just don’t make a habit of this.
Women often want to appear strong and many feel as though they have to put on a brave face in the face of adversity, but it is important to know when to seek out help. Asking for help does not make you any less than, and you are not admitting defeat. If you do not have any motivation or feel as though you no longer want to live is beyond time to reach out to someone. Many people report feelings that they believe are out of the ordinary, but many just don’t say anything about it. There is always someone there to listen, you’re not alone.
~ Oprah Winfrey
HCXO