“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”
Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.
Shine A Light
“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”
Mental Illness can create a lot of darkness for the individual suffering and those around them. Sometimes it can be hard to find a way out. Many have shared their experience of feeling completely alone in the world when they are truly suffering.
Many people around us are suffering from challenges such as grief, depression, addiction, burnout, anxiety and PTSD. 1 in 5 adults in America experience a mental illness, yet nearly 60% of adults with a mental illness didn’t receive mental health services in the previous year.
Sometimes in the midst of the darkness, we need a guiding light through it. Through people sharing their stories of experience, strength, and hope, there is the opportunity to relate, know we are not alone and no longer need to suffer in silence- there is a different path, a path towards the light.
Mental Illness Doesn’t Discriminate
Mental illness affects people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and orientations- it doesn’t discriminate. The state of our mental health can affect how we think, feel and act in every aspect of our day-to-day life. It can prevent us from coping and engaging in life, impacting our relationships and productivity. People experiencing mental illness may have challenges focusing at school, parenting, managing family life, finding a good job or earning sufficient income.
Sue Abderholden, MPH, has served as the executive director of NAMI Minnesota writes “In reality, what people with mental illness are facing is not stigma, it’s discrimination. The word “stigma” doesn’t truly reflect people’s experiences with discrimination in housing, education, employment and health care. It’s not stigma that has resulted in people boarding in emergency rooms. It’s not stigma that has resulted in public and private health insurance not covering needed mental health treatment and services. It’s not stigma that has led to so many people with mental illness ending up in the criminal justice system. It’s not stigma that causes so many people to be unemployed. It’s discrimination.”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others’?”
We all have a responsibility to think about the way we are treating others and the words we use. We all have a role to play in creating the culture that we all need and deserve:
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See The Whole Person- A person’s mental health condition does not define who they are.
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Offer Support- Don’t be afraid to reach out if you think someone is struggling.
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Challenge Misconceptions– Speak up if you hear a co-worker spread stereotypes and myths about mental illness.
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Mind Your Words- Use respectful language and avoid labels like ‘crazy’ or ‘unstable’.
My Mess Becomes My Message
“The Ultimate Measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
This phrase has been shared a lot on social media and stands true for many people who have come forward to share their personal experience.
Robert Rohm Ph.D writes “We are often headed in one direction when circumstances and situations arise that cause us to adjust our course. The sudden interruptions of life, which all of us experience from time to time, force us to zig-zag our way to our intended goal. We need to recognize that is the pattern of life. Rather than getting frustrated, angry or bitter about it, why not simply go with the flow and learn the lesson life is trying to teach us? Whatever has happened in your life has been to help make you a better person. The mess that you may be experiencing right now – RIGHT NOW – will one day become something that you talk about and perhaps even laugh about. Some of my deepest hurts and sorrows have become the very stories I have been able to share with others to help them through a difficult time in their own life. And the same will be true for you. No one wants to know how great and perfect we are. But, everyone is willing to listen to our own personal experiences of how we struggled and failed along life’s way. It is helpful for them to hear how our “mess” became our message. It will be a blessing to others, and when all is said and done, isn’t that what life is all about?”
The Dark Does Not Destroy The Light
we don’t avoid any topic. UNCrushed gets into the darkness and shines a light on it.
“The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.”