Let’s Talk Mental Health — Everyday

Every morning there are hundreds of thousands of struggling souls in the world trying to get up, to go to work, to school, or to the store, only to be trapped within the waking nightmares of our own minds.

Maybe our bodies feel so heavy that our only choice is to stay anchored to our beds.

Maybe our minds are racing so fast that the only way we can keep ourselves together is to stay silent and still.

Maybe the voices in our heads are drowning our true selves out, or worse, telling us that there is no point in living any longer.

Every year for Bell Let’s Talk Day we all try to take a moment to talk about the issues of mental health in our communities. Strangers talk to strangers about something that is often stranger than anything they could imagine. But we try to understand the thoughts and feelings of others who are often dealing with brain chemistry that takes them on a different path through life than the rest of us.

January 27th is a great day to spread awareness, and to see what might be under the surface, and behind the eyes of people we thought we knew through and through.

The thing is: it’s easy to say “I care”, and “I’m listening”, one day, and call us “crazy” the next.

People do it all the time, and in our busy day to day, it’s easy to see only the surface versions of the people around us. It’s easy to forget that we should know our friends and coworkers on a deeper level, so that we can see and act on the signs of mental illness

I get that it’s hard to stay consistent. At least we’re talking about mental health on a couple more occasions during the year, outside of Suicide Prevention Day, and on days when someone close to us has actually committed suicide.

That’s better, right?

We can all do even better.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to into work and face the day.

I work with wonderful people at an awesome company doing a rad job, but even then, it can be hard to get out of bed.

I’m lucky that I’ve been helped through dealing with my bipolar type 2 by an understanding employer, a loving fiancé, supportive friends, and awesome family.

They are the reason I’ve made it to the point where I’m on a (mostly) consistent schedule, have proper medication, am on a (moderately) healthy diet, and feel hopeful about the future.

My support group has been there to ask me how I’m doing on more than just one or two days a year.

Not everyone else has the support that I’ve had, and for all you know, you could be the one who can start them on the path to getting help.

It isn’t all on you.

There are support groups, and help lines, programs, and clinics. If you don’t know what to do after you say “I’m listening”, they can help with the heavy lifting. If you ever find yourself not knowing how to go on, or what to do for a friend, it’s okay to call 911.

But the first step is up to you.

The first step is speaking up, and listening, everyday.

It’s okay to talk about mental health.

Everyday.

Bell Let’s Talk is a great cause, but if you’re looking for something a little closer to home (home being Winnipeg), then please consider donating to mental health initiatives in Winnipeg through A Critical Cause. A Critical Cause is a fund put together by Winnipeg gamers from The Critical Hit website, in partnership with the Winnipeg Foundation. Donations go towards a fund that will support Winnipeg mental health resources.