Today is Bell Let’s Talk day, and I’ve written about it before each year in this post, but I wanted to do something different this year.
I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety for years now - while my diagnosis officially came in 2014, the symptoms really started when I was 13 or 14, a few years after my parents’ divorce. Insomnia happens to be the major symptom for me - crippling sleeplessness for day. I can recount stories from high school and college of nights on end without sleep, how I was consumed by my own thoughts, and the like.
That’s not what this post is for. Not this year, anyway.
I’ve always been very open about my mental health since I was officially diagnosed, and since the start of my sports career - it just so happened that I finally got help for my mental health at the same time I was working in hockey, a sport where the stigma of mental health is melting away. My career pushed me so hard in Portland that I had no choice but to seek help, because I knew I could no longer do the career I loved without assistance. As I’ve said in the past, my only regret with getting help was waiting so long to do so - nearly 10 years after the symptoms first started.
Since I started medication in 2014, save for that summer where my medication didn’t work, I’ve vocally advocated for others to get help and speak out about mental health, because I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be here today without it. At the same time, I’ve seen growth in the US, UK, and Canada in the amount of resources going to mental health causes, and many, many more people speaking up about their own journeys.
I was at my 10 year high school reunion back in November, and someone who works in the medical profession came up to me to thank me for speaking out about my personal issues. I hadn’t spoken to this person since high school, and even then we weren’t that close, yet they had seen what I had to say on this blog and my social media. I was touched that talking about my own issues - something that felt more like an obligation than a choice at times - was helpful to others. And so, we get to the point of this post.
Bell Let’s Talk is one day each year that raises money in Canada. It’s a great reason to share mental health stories, experiences, and lessons, as well as connect those who are looking for resources with those who can provide help. But it’s just one day, and mental health is not a one day illness. Mental health is 24/7/365. No one day is more important than another when it comes to getting help, and I feel that the emphasis on this one day has turned from an awareness event to a social media holiday. Don’t wait for an excuse to get help if you feel you need it, nor should you feel pressure to share your story if you don’t want to - that’s not the intended purpose of this initiative. Rather, continuing the conversation, research, and ending the stigma around mental illness are far more important than one hashtag.
So, use the #BellLetsTalk hashtag today, and raise money in Canada. But don’t stop the conversation - keep talking tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after. Mental health is health, and one day it will be a regular part of the lexicon of medical services. Don’t wait for a specific event to get help.
Here are some US/UK resources:
US - NIMH Resources
UK - NHS Mental Health Services
I’m always willing to talk about my own experience and make suggestions, but I’m not a professional - I’m a sports social media freelancer desperately trying to get employment in London, not a doctor, so talk all my advice with a large grain of salt. Still, if there’s any real point to this post, it’s this - Mental health is not a one day event, and getting help is not a one-time offer. The resources are out there, and people who care are out there - and while asking for help can be tough, living with mental health issues on your own is far tougher.
Let’s keep talking.