It's time to talk about mental health. Mental health affects millions of people and it's time to stand up and realize that it won't get any better unless society changes the way they think about mental health. I so happened to come across an incident over the weekend.
On March 1st, I was waiting for the subway to go to a concert. As I was waiting, I saw a man sitting on the edge of the walkway with his legs hanging over the subway tracks. He looked scared, confused, upset, and he kept getting closer and closer to falling off the walkway onto the tracks. The subway was coming in two minutes. People were telling him "not to do it" and so on. Then with less than a minute until the subway was supposed to come, two men went over to the man and picked him up and held him until the train stopped. Two police officers got there and came over to the man. I overheard the man say he was just trying to get his hat that fell on the tracks, but I was not so convinced.
People with mental health issues CAN'T just "get over it" or "be happy" etc. It is an actual chemical imbalance in the brain. Too many people have lost the fight with mental health. Too many people go unnoticed. Too many people do not understand what mental health actually is. But, most of all ... TOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
Change the stigma that people with and mental health has. It's time change a terrible stigma so we can start to save lives.
If you or someone you know needs help please do not be scared to use the resources available. Visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ where you can chat, learn more, and so much more. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Asking or getting help is not a weakness. It is in fact, a strength.
