Mental Health Awareness Month

"Macbeth: How does your patient, doctor?

Doctor: Not so sick, my lord, as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies that keep her from rest.

Macbeth: Cure her of that! Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon her heart.

Doctor: Therein the patient must minister to himself." ~ Shakespeare

This month is mental health awareness month.  We as a society have a plethora of worthy causes; illness advocacy, child advocacy, elderly advocacy and equality awareness.  To me, the most dangerous slight in America has been towards mental health.  There remains a stigma to mental health that places a near scarlet letter upon someone who struggles with it.  With our economy and current social climate; a frighteningly increasing number of individuals are subject to overwhelming multiple concurrent pressures.  This affects our youngest to our eldest.

     Whether it is a soldier returning from home after witnessing whatever horrors in a far off land they have,  or simply a family struggling with bills and  near divorce; today's world has asked more of each American to overcome than at any time I can recall in my 41 years on this earth.

     I am a suicide survivor.  Both as one who attempted and one who lost a loved one.  Mental health has been a struggle for me from young childhood with an alcoholic parent to the present day in trying to provide for a daughter a better life than my parents worked very hard for mine.  I am like millions of Americans in this way; we have scars and struggles.  The toll these take on our mind and spirit we are far from having compassion, understanding, and enough concerted effort to overcome.

    I have been humbled enough to know I need help at varying times in my life.  I hope that this is not seen as a weakness; rather acknowledging where my sole efforts can not overcome what I face alone.  I have been graced by the hand of God to be here and able to write this.  I have been blessed with a daughter whose face, voice, and laughter are the inspiration to continue and strive to be better.  I have been lucky to have family and friends with unwavering support and care.

     Not everyone has these.  This month, please take the effort to educate yourself about mental health.  Moreover; please pay it forward and look out for those nearest to you.  If we all spend a little concerted effort in this regard; think of how many who feel helpless will be shown they are not.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.