Note: If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741-741. Or call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
May is Mental Health Month. This year, I think more people will take the time to pause and reflect on these past fourteen months and what they have meant for our collective mental health than any other time in recent history. The isolation, the anxiety, the staggering death toll, the loss of financial security for people who had to close their businesses or who lost their jobs, the process of grieving even for the “normal” events we (and our children) were unable to attend…school, the office, birthday parties, weddings, holidays with family, happy hours, funerals. With very little warning, our lives were irrevocably changed in an instant one Thursday aftern in March and we didn’t even know for how long or what the magnitude of the extended impact would be. We went from thriving and humming along with our daily lives and routines to survival mode pretty much overnight. And we’ll be witnessing and measuring the aftermath for years to come.
Mental health has been at the forefront of many of my conversations these past few months both personally and professionally, as well as through my work with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). I think it’s one of the only silver linings to come out of this difficult time. While we all experienced the pandemic from different perspectives, various walks of life and circumstances, the bottom line is that we have now witnessed first-hand how important it is to be mindful of our own mental health; to check in on those we know and love; and to be aware of the warning signs if someone is suffering so much that they may be depressed or even thinking of suicide.
The importance of reaching out.
Many times, especially when we are so immersed in our own lives and issues, we may not notice the signs that indicate someone is struggling. If you are concerned about someone you know or love, make sure you know the signs and how to approach the topic with them. Being educated and proactively knowing the signs may be extremely helpful in case you find yourself in a future situation where you need to know how to react, and quickly.
Reaching out can absolutely make a difference, and it has for so many people. Since losing my Uncle Billy to suicide in 2009, I have reached out to many people in my personal and professional life through various avenues, including social media and real-time conversations, and I truly believe it has made a difference. I have also been published on The Mighty website that chronicles people’s real-life stories, and have been featured on Aetna and CVSHealth’s intranet sites raising awareness about the importance of mental health. By continuing to speak out, I’m actively looking to reduce the stigma surrounding this topic. I encourage those struggling to reach out for help. Reaching out for help doesn’t make you weak—it actually takes an incredible amount of courage to do so and should be considered a sign of strength.
Being part of the solution.
This year, I am proud to continue my active role as a board member for AFSP and I’m honored to be the Co-Chair of this year’s Niantic Out of the Darkness walk (shameless plug: Register or donate today!) I am also preparing to deliver my first Talk Saves Lives training to 50-100 CVSHealth employees and customer representatives in early September. Those of you who know me well understand that this is out of my comfort zone because I have never been super confident in my ability to present and speak publicly, but this year I made it one of my professional development goals, and after several (non-mental health) presentations at work, I have to admit, at 41, I’m finally coming along.
In March, I had the opportunity to attend one of my AFSP colleague’s Talk Saves Lives trainings for an elderly LGBT population and it was a beautiful experience, hearing their collective stories and what they have endured over the years, and how they have come together to support each other. I was even able to help one of the participants with an idea for their peer support hotline by suggesting that the volunteers take the Mental Health First Aid course to feel better prepared for certain conversations and topics that may arise on their inbound calls.
As I once wrote in my LinkedIn blog post, Choose to Make a Difference No Matter What You Do: “Long ago, I made a promise to myself to reach out to others in their time of need. And I will continue to look for opportunities to make people’s lives better for the rest of my own life because I don’t know how to live any other way.” I truly believe this is my calling in life—to listen without judgment. To understand. To care. And to help and support this important cause.
