OT: Mental health PSA

always a timely reminder, especially with yesterday being Global Mental Health Awareness Day, and October being National Bullying Prevention Month (September is National Suicide Prevention Month).

And this is a large part of what I do. Gave a conference presentation this morning to K12 educators regarding resources to help with SEL initiatives and mental health outcomes in schools.

And as a failed suicide myself, I know how quickly one can feel overwhelmed. And I also know there's still a huge stigma attached to talking about it.

Honestly, now-Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner said it best at his acceptance of the Masterton Trophy at the last NHL Awards:

"I'm not ashamed to admit I'm mentally ill, but it also doesn't mean I'm mentally weak." 

Wise words.

Yes!  Thank you for posting!  And yesterday was World Mental Health Day!!! A few things I always try bring up in these (rare) discussions:

1) Mental health problems are diseases, just like if you have a problem with your kidney, lungs or blood or something. They're more perplexing because they affect our mind and how we think, but remember that they're diseases all the same. We should take them seriously and they require treatment. 

2) It's remarkably common. People everywhere deal with anxiety/depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and more everyday. Even within your own family you likely have people you love who have dealt with one or more of these. Don't be afraid to acknowledge it, talk with someone about it or seek help.

3) If you're afraid you might do something to hurt yourself or someone else, dial 911 or go to the emergency room. I always thought this was a little weird but its what health care professionals tell you to do and its nice to know its there. 

Mental health care is pretty poor in this country precisely because we don't take the right approach. I've had some scary incidents (and certain problems seem to run in my family) but I was lucky that I was able to get help. My insurance plan had only one in-network psych/therapist in a major metropolitan area and it was like a 45 minute drive away and I didn't have a car. But a friend of mine stepped in and put me in touch with a local therapist who was nice enough to charge me a generous, out-of-pocket discounted rate. And I had a great experience with her. Like I said, I was lucky. And I was lucky that my incidents scared me enough to realize that I was not really in control and I needed help. But those are the obstacles to adequate mental health care that people have to overcome in this country everyday.  

Take care everybody!

[EDIT:  STUDENTS - if you're experiencing mental health issues get help from the campus counseling services CAPS. They seriously helped me my senior year when I first started having problems. 

Back in the day it was on one of the higher floors of the Michigan Union but it looks like its temporarily at 609 Tappan while the union is renovated. https://caps.umich.edu/article/caps-temporary-location.]

As someone who has dealt with suicidal thoughts and had the knife on his wrist, I really appreciate this post. One bad relationship or choice can push almost any one into a very dark place and we should always be ready to love each other. Some things that have helped me and the people I know that have dealt with this (includes one religious idea):

• God loves you and has a plan for your life 
• You are a gift to the world and the world needs you
• Everyone has dealt with or will deal with doubt, discouragement, fear, pain, despair. It is normal and it is okay. You are not broken and your story will help and save someone else.
• There are people who love you and want to help. Some of them are strangers. Your life is valued and important.

When I made my attempt in HS I was sent to a counselor that told me thinking of suicide is selfish. I would strongly recommend against this popular approach. Telling someone who is depressed and feeling worthless that they are selfish is not helpful. What was helpful was having a friend who was willing to get in the “pit” with me, acknowledge that my despair was real, and support me with empathy and compassion. 
It sucks to access our own feelings of pain and trauma, so we often don’t want to go there with the people we love. But being willing to feel the pain with someone who is struggling can have such a positive impact. I’ve never felt more loved or supported than when that was done for me and it instantly lifted me up to have some one who was willing to go there with me. 
God bless this post. Thank you for sharing and showing the good side of the internet. 

Get your downvotes ready, because here's some reality for you.  Men are more likely to commit suicide because society has deemed them as disposable and their struggles are at best ignored or at worst laughed at.  Men are less likely to seek mental health treatment because it comes with the possibility that they'll lose their livelihood, their rights and their social standing in their community.

Upvotes for everyone! A posbang makes me feel good, and it makes you feel good. Sometimes it's the little things that help.

A good thread and a topic that needs to be discussed more.

SIAP but social media is also a huge factor in this. People that post a lot try to construct a life that people will be envious of, and it leads to a great deal of trying to keep up, one-up, and just generally try to compete with each other. I don't post much on media, preferring to look for the funny stuff and chat with friends. But I feel the emotions too....so-and-so has a great job, wonderful life, awesome vacations every year and it's perfect. And oh, look at those pics too -- doctored with whatever the latest app is to make them look better than reality.

Social media can really take a toll on folks, especially the younger generations.

As someone who suffers from clinical BPoNE, I agree that it's important to destigmatize depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental health issues, in order to make it easier to seek treatment, get help, and do better.  It's not always easy or fun, but if you are suffering, you're not alone.

Thank you for posting.

Thank you for posting this.  My father committed suicide when I was 19 and while I knew he alternated between angry and completely withdrawn my teenage self thought he was just mean.  I don't know if he ever sought treatment, as my parents were divorced and my Mom didn't know. 

I have my own struggles with depression and have been fairly open with my daughters, one of whom has similar issues.  Eventually I forced her into therapy which has made a tremendous difference. 

It's a shame that mental health is still such a taboo subject, especially in the workplace. 

As a teacher, unfortunately I see this stuff too, and I see it in sad ways.

A number of decent studies have connected an overabunance of screen time (ANY screen time) combined with physical inactivity to being an amplifier for those with depression and a potential cause for depression as well, which can seriously contribute to mental illness.  PLEASE limit your kid's screen time and get them out doing things!

There is another cause that's a little more controversial, so I'm not going to delve deep into it.  I'll just say in passing that kids are too often given a self-esteem that is high but not based on anything concrete, and when reality comes into play that self-esteem is shattered, and in the case of mental illness does more to contribute to problems than actually produce solutions.

Mental illness should be treated the same as any other illness. Thanks for posting this!

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) here.  Not well known in 1980.  Damn near flunked out.  
I have to run a mile for every beer in the fall/winter  It makes it hard to keep up with the drinking thread.  Sunlight, exercise, and vitamin D3 are extremely desirable.

There were two suicides at MGoDaughter’s high school while she was there. In part, that motivated her to study psychology in college, focusing on mental health.

As a natural-born problem-solver, she then went to work at a clever startup (ginger) whose mission is to address mental health challenges at the time of need. I think they, and several others like them, are really on to something that will help people with depression and anxiety. Much better, IMO, than traditional EAPs.

Every little bit helps.

Mental illness has been on topic for my family since I was born. My father had a multitude of issues, and I'm not sure he was ever completely diagnosed, even with several stays in mental hospitals. Because of him I've learned that it is very much an illness, like diabetes or Parkinson's are illnesses. It's not a weakness or even emotional in the conventional sense -- it manifests itself in one's emotions, but it is a lot more complicated than being sad or down. I wish schools would start early, teaching kids to pay attention to how they're feeling mentally, like they pay attention to when they have stomach aches and sore throats. Boys especially suffer because of society's view on men showing their emotions. Guys, go talk to your doctors if you don't feel like yourself, or if you're down. Things can get better. 

This is a great thread. Major credit to the OP and many posters.

If you're struggling, please reach out for help. Things can get better. It may not feel like it, but you are important. Tell yourself that every day.

You seem like a solid human. +1

Great post!

Anxiety and depression is no joke and can creep up at any point in one’s life. I was pretty much symptom free for 40 years of life until I made a career change and went into a nursing program. The second year I had so much anxiety that I could only sleep a couple hours at a time and would often wake up with acid reflux and other GI symptoms. I was suddenly in a dark place and when I wasn’t busy, my thoughts would sometimes scare me. I decided to try lexapro and It really helped by letting me sleep and saving my esophagus. Talking about it with friends, family, and classmates(I wasn’t the only one struggling) really helped too

I stopped taking it after graduation and have been fine with the new job so far, but I have been exercising regularly too. Anyway, I encourage anyone with anxiety  or depression to get help. You CAN make it out of that hole.

Thanks for this post. Unfortunately I know all to well what a terrible thing this is as I lost my son who was a U of M student 5 years ago. I can tell anyone that is willing to listen to do whatever it takes and to use all means to try to help your kids through the tough times. I can tell you that the loss of a child is something that you will never get over. I think about my son multiple times every passing day and to this day find it very hard to hear songs I knew he liked, visit places we went together, hearing stories from friends of how their kids are doing, etc. etc. It's a much tougher world out there with the pressures of social media and kids constantly comparing themselves to others. I truly believe that with each generation we get a little bit softer. Think about the generations that had kids going to war at 18 and the generations after that where you were expected to "tough it out for yourself". I truly believe that each ensuing generation wants their kids to have it better than they did and sometimes in that process kids don't develop that thick skin so its harder for them to deal with all of the new social pressures. I could be totally off base but what I do know is that when my son left this world he asked that we make the world a better place and if by supporting initiatives that prevent suicide stop just one family from having to go through what our family has gone through, then we will have done just that.

I have dealt with anxiety for 4-5 years and it wasn’t until the last month that I finally went to the dr, am taking meds and also will see a therapist for the first time next week. I was stubborn for years, I’m still nervous about the therapist. Anxiety can be a bitch man, I hope I can get better.

It’s hard to be honest about mental health. Especially with the stigma of mental illness. I am honored when someone chooses to “get real” and be honest on a human level. It’s very refreshing. 

I just watched the movie Joker last night and it was a realistic look into the mind of someone who's had a lot of trauma and mental illness as a result.  It really makes you feel a sense of empathy for those that go through challenges, which we all do to varying degrees.  Sometimes all it takes is one supportive and caring person to pull someone through a difficult time and to shift your perspective from "what's wrong with me" to "what happened to me in my past" and how can I process it?