Reach One Person? You Bet I Did.

This evening, I had the great #honor of being the #keynotespeaker at a National Honor Society Banquet for some local youth in my community. I was given the opportunity to talk with #teens about #mentalhealth.

I didn't expect a standing ovation or anything extraordinary. But I wanted to reach one of them. I wanted my words to resonate with one of them.

During the reception following the event, on of these teens came up to me and asked if she could talk to me.

She said that she is feeling a lot of the things that I was talking about, and wondered if I still struggled today.

Oh boy, do I ever struggle.

She started crying. "I think I'm feeling the same things you were talking about. And I don't know what to do."

She cried more and I hugged her. I told her these feelings are so real and to not let anyone tell her otherwise.

Before leaving, she asked if she could email me and ask questions about anxiety and depression. Instead, I suggested she text me. And after speaking with her mom, I asked if it was okay to spend time with her; to have some fun coffee. To talk about things that are hard to talk about.

I barely walked in the door when I received a message from her.

This. This is why I do what I do. This is why I talk about mental health. This is why I will

CONTINUE talking about mental health.

Reach one person?

You bet, I did.

Click on the link to go directly to a video I recorded on TikTok before my speech.

https://www.facebook.com/144700738/videos/10100468776940498/

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthadvocacy #anxiety #depression #SuicideAwareness #suicideprevention #makeitok #endthestigma #itsokaytonotbeokay