So many people suffer in silence, too afraid to reach out for help for fear of being judged or ostracized. There is such a stigma concerning mental health in our country, especially with social media available to assist with swift information sharing. People are made to feel ashamed, they are shunned, and in some cases even discriminated against. We are in the midst of a mental health crisis, far too many people are suffering and there are too few therapist and facilities to support them. Three years ago, my life was forever changed when my sister attempted suicide. I was consumed with feelings of confusion and helplessness. All I could ask was ‘why’ and ‘what made her do this.’ I have learned from her attempt that people suffer in silence. Someone can look happy and be energetic on the outside, when in reality they are in a dark, inescapable place on the inside. My sister and I were always close and frequently rode bikes together. As it turns out, a few weeks before her suicide attempt when I did not ride with her because I was busy on the phone, she was sexually assaulted by someone in a nearby neighborhood. She never told anyone that it occurred and was holding all of this anger, fear, and anxiety inside. When she was discharged from the hospital, she required careful monitoring and I was consumed with worry that she would try to harm herself again. I checked on her sometimes every 30 minutes, packed up all the medicine from the pantry, and removed any sharp things from her room. I could not sleep and had difficulty focusing on schoolwork. I just kept replaying that day in my head and blaming myself for not going with her and for not noticing the signs that she needed help. All of this was taking place during my junior year of high school which is the most academically challenging. My grades were slipping and I started missing school. I finally realized that I needed to talk to someone because I could not stop blaming myself for what happened to my little sister. I received the help that I needed and continue to talk to someone if I ever become overwhelmed. It is so important to admit when you need help and seek out assistance. As a result of my experience, I have chosen a career in the mental health field. There is such a great need for psychologists and licensed counselors and despite the amount of time it will take to complete my studies, I am dedicated. I am currently enrolled in the University of Louisiana Lafayette as a freshman in Psychology. Despite the challenging coursework and working 20 hours a week, I have maintained a 4.0. I want to work in a clinic or psychiatric hospital providing help to those in acute crisis as well as ongoing therapeutic sessions; therefore, I will need a Masters or Doctoral degree and licensure. Although this will create a financial burden, I am committed to the process and believe that money should not stop a person from achieving their goals. I will just have to work harder. I want to help spread mental health awareness and ensure suicide prevention programs are implemented in today’s schools and workplaces. I was elected to the position of Wellness Specialist in my social organization, Alpha Delta Pi. I am implementing monthly mental wellness sessions introducing mediation, relaxation, and self-help topics including healthy habits and self-love. It would be amazing if I could be the reason that someone chooses to live and to thrive.

My struggle with mental health began in high school as the COVID-19 pandemic totally prevented typical high school experiences. To begin with my high school was super competitive, overcrowded, and filled with cliques. I was socially awkward being the oldest of three girls who always had to watch kids cartoons and sweet Disney shows, while my counterparts were into boys and sneaking booze. I had trouble finding my crowd and often was left alone at lunch, the only one not invited to parties. High school, I had decided would be my time to make great friends who I could confide in and belong with. That would not be the case as virtual school and social isolation were mandated and enforced throughout the country. I was not allowed to have social media yet so I was cut off from everyone and completely isolated. Aside from riding bikes with my family or taking walks, we were confined to our houses. The mental toll of social isolation during some of the most important developmental years began to wear on me. I was struggling. The remainder of high school went well academically; however, I never really found my people. Most weekends I would sit in my room and look at social media to see what everyone was doing, which only made things worse. I often wondered why I was here and what my purpose could be. College has been so different, I have really found a place where I belong. I have joined a social organization where I was elected to the position of wellness specialist. I am studying to become a psychologist so that I can help others who are struggling. My mental health still definitely plays a big role in both my academic performance and personal life. But I've found that when my mental health is suffering, it's harder for me to focus on my studies and stay motivated. It's like this heaviness descends over everything, making it difficult to concentrate and retain information. And in my personal life, it affects my relationships with both friends and family, because I might withdraw or not have the energy to engage with them like I normally would. To make my mental health a priority, I've learned to listen to my body and mind. When I start feeling anxious or overwhelmed, I know it's time to take a step back and practice some self-care. This might mean going for a walk, doing some meditation, or just taking a break from social media. I also make sure to prioritize nutrition and sleep, because I've noticed that when I'm not taking care of my physical health, it really takes a toll on my mental well-being. I’ve sought counseling when needed and have gained great coping skills and much needed help. I want to help spread mental health awareness and ensure suicide prevention programs are implemented in today’s schools and workplace. It is my hope that when someone feels stressed or bullied, they will have a counselor or trained peer advocate to whom they can talk. I have implemented monthly mental wellness sessions including mediation, relaxation, and self-help topics. With exams approaching and recent tragedy on our campus, just this week, I encouraged fellow college students to let out any feelings of stress or anger by writing down all their negative thoughts and worries on a plate and then smashing their plate in a safety bin. Hopefully this visualization exercise will help relive anxiety going into finals. It would be amazing if I could make a positive impact toward mental well-being in others.

Two years ago, my life was forever changed when my sister attempted suicide. I was consumed with feelings of confusion, helplessness and pain. I've learned from her attempt that people suffer in silence. Someone can look happy and be energetic on the outside when in reality they are in a dark, inescapable place on the inside. I hated myself for the way I treated Maggie. I yelled at her almost every day, never once trying to sit down and talk to her. It was just fighting left and right to no avail, and it led to us hating each other. I wish I could take it all back and simply talk to her, sit down with her and help her. I wish I had been there for her from the start. My sister has been hospitalized three times now, visited several therapists, and is under the care of a psychiatrist. This ordeal has been rough on my family, but it has made us closer. My sister knows she can talk to me if she needs anything, and I will always be there to help her. She no longer needs to suffer in silence. I am not sure what I would have done if things turned out differently that day. I love her so much, and I am extremely glad she is here. I know she is still battling and I pray that she keeps up her fight. As a result of my experience, I have chosen a career in the mental health field. There is such a great need for psychiatrists and despite the amount of time it will take to complete my studies, I am dedicated. I want to work in a psychiatric hospital providing help to those in acute crisis. I want to help someone find hope in the face of hopelessness. There has been a sharp rise in depression and suicide in the past three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. There was such social isolation and fear during the lockdown that many people, especially teens, suffer from depression. I believe that social media is also negatively impacting people and creating increasing anxiety, body image issues, and low self-esteem. Mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs need to be implemented in today’s schools and workplaces. I've been active in trying to get a support group at my school for suicide prevention. The majority of teens with suicidal thoughts never seek help and feel isolated. I plan to create a program of mental wellness that focuses on healthy habits and self-love. It would be amazing if I could be the reason that someone chooses to live and thrive. I hope to one day make a difference and create a ripple effect of positivity that touches many lives. My relationship with my family and friends; especially my sister, has grown during this experience. I have learned to always be present and available, even when I am having a bad day. I always try to observe others and listen so that I can help when needed. During college, I plan to create a safe and cozy place for friends in my dorm by adding soothing lighting and warm comforting objects. I will try to apply what I have learned from my experience with Maggie and always ask questions about how someone is and never assume they are fine. People don't always show they are hurting and I will encourage my friends to be open and feel like they are safe confiding in me. I want to prevent another teen or family from dealing with the pain that suicide can cause.