How is this happening yet again? More importantly, why?
If you read any of my articles you are most likely very aware that I have a passion for mental health. It consumes my heart and my wishes for this world. With the passing of Kate Spade, I kept asking myself "why?" We have made such strides in getting away from the negative "loony bin" stigma around mental health, why does it seem like it's not helping?
This past week, you could log onto any social media and see beautifully articulate posts written about the passing of Kate Spade. Posts that state what a tragedy it was. Posts that proclaim that mental illnesses are OKAY to talk about. Multiple listings of the suicide hotline number. You get the gist.
Haven't we seen this before? Every time depression or anxiety claims another life we are all quick to jump and write about it. Goodness, that's what I'm doing right now. Whether it's a kid at school or a world wide celebrity, we are now in a place where we all talk about mental health when tragedy strikes.
The stigma surrounding mental health has certainly shifted for the better; but, I think it is in the every day moments before tragedy strikes that we can truly make a difference.
We doubt friends who admit to depression and think, "they're just sad." We doubt friends who admit to anxiety and think, "they're just stressed." Or we doubt anyone that is struggling simply because, "their life isn't hard or bad enough for them to be depressed, how dare they?"
How dare they. I'll painfully admit I have had this thought. I have listened to someone and thought they haven't been through enough to be depressed so, how dare they. In those little moments, those little comments, how big of a difference could I have made in one person's life?
Kate Spade had talent. She had a family. She had built a fashion empire. She had money, and things, and success. But suicide claimed her. Suicide took her.
Mental illness does not discriminate. It can grab a hold of us at our peaks and at our lows. It is not limited to women or men, a particular job, a particular age, or level of income.
We also need to attack the thoughts of how dare I. Never feel guilty for struggling. Be proud of your struggles no matter when they come. Just because the world says that you are in a place where you are "supposed" to be happy and smiley, if mental illness has you in its grips, seek help. Never think that you are not allowed to be in a bad place. You are allowed to face everything you feel and you deserve help.
We need to be more present in those little moments. Those little conversations. When someone doubts that their life is worth anything, even jokingly. When we brush aside something we feel because simply because we should be happy.
Everyone's life is worth the world. At the highs and the lows. Do not doubt that the world needs you. So, let's talk about Kate, and this time not stop talking.
