Addie's Column: Suicide prevention and mental illness awareness
Editor’s Note: As Suicide Prevention Month comes to a close, Davidson Local intern Addie Walser shares a deeply personal journey. Several local agencies, funded by Davidson County United Way, support these difficult conversations. Local agencies include Nazareth Child & Family Connection (nazcfc.org) and Family Services of Davidson County (fsdc.org).
Growing up, I never had a clear depiction or at least a decent perception of mental health and related illnesses. I would see characters on TV acting in an almost comedic manner to portray mental illness. Melodramatic sadness represents depression, manic mood swings for bipolar disorder, Type A perfectionists for OCD and many more exaggerated stereotypical illustrations.
The media would almost sensationalize mental illnesses and struggles, painting a digestible caricature of reality. As a result, to put it simply, I was naive about mental illnesses and with what people struggled. Since I had grown up with my only real point of reference for mental illnesses being from TV, I had always viewed it as some distant and far-off concept, not even touching the everyday person. I was completely and utterly wrong. Mental illness is prevalent and overwhelming. It certainly does affect the everyday person. It just never seemed like that to me because I was never made aware of mental illnesses and the effects they have. That’s why awareness is so crucial, educating yourself so you can help others and even yourself is an amazing thing to do. As a result, September has been deemed Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, in honor of those who struggle and who have struggled and to bring awareness to those around us.
This topic is personal to me; I have struggled with my own mental health and suicidal thoughts. In all honesty, I never had a plan for my future, because I didn’t anticipate making it past 18. I was in a dark place for a long time, and I didn’t even know it. I didn’t know what I was feeling or why I was feeling that way. It felt almost as if I was deep underwater, disoriented by the dark, unable to swim up for air simply because I didn’t know which way to go. I just felt so overwhelmed all the time, I was feeling everything everywhere but I was also so disconnected from it all. As a result, I admittedly wasn’t the best person or daughter. I was angry, distant, cynical. I pushed away people because I didn’t want to be near anyone. I wanted to keep everyone at arm's length, simply because it was easier.
The turning point for me was in seventh grade. I remember there was an in-school assembly for mental health and illnesses. I recall the speaker talking to us, passionately and empathically, recounting his struggle with mental illness. What he talked about struck a nerve for me and many others. He had put what I couldn’t into words so succinctly. He had put the pieces together of my jumbled-up brain, helping me see the whole picture. He made me realize I had a problem and that people were there for me. He helped me realize I wanted to get better. After school, I clearly remember my mom driving me home from school, and we finally had a real talk. Without that speaker, I doubt I would be where or who I am today. Being made blatantly aware of my problems helped me in ways I can’t describe. He helped me verbalize my problems to my mom. As a result, I got the help I needed and I’m doing much better.
This is why, in my opinion, awareness is essential for the progression and betterment of our society as a whole. It changed my life and helped me reach out for the resources and support I needed. Having difficult conversations is hard, but they are so necessary. Actions as simple as reaching out to a loved one and talking with one another can help tremendously. Mental illness makes you feel alone and isolated, and by reaching out and communicating with one another we can help each other and truly make an impact. Although September is nearly over, that doesn’t mean the campaign for suicide awareness and prevention should end. Talk to someone, call a loved one or simply check up on how someone is doing. These small deeds could help someone or even save his or her life.
