I’ve been talking about #mentalhealth for almost a year now. How it can impact families. How little support is actually available. How we need to change out cultural views and taboos concerning mental health.

When someone’s family announces that they have cancer there is an outpouring of support. When it’s mental health people get uncomfortable and awkward.

If it had come out that she had a torn ligament people would be so proud she took care of herself.

This young woman has endured more then most of her critics. She has been scored different then her competitors. She performs feats that no one else on earth has ever done and yet those at home watching the tv think they understand the mental acuity needed to perform such feats under the conditions surrounding her. And not only judge but condemn her for knowing that she is not able to attempt them right now.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. And those around you struggling with mental health see and hear how you are reacting to this. Your child, spouse, mother or brother could be silently suffering and you are now no longer a safe person to confide in or ask for help. (And for the love of God please don’t be arrogant enough to think you would “know” if your love one was dealing with that. There is often no neon sign pointing it out. I guarantee you some one you know and love is suffering right now) so just stop. Stop! Stop finding reasons to tear people down. Stop being so harsh. Choose to give people the benefit of the doubt. Choose to be kind. Choose to focus on the positives. Treat people and talk about people and judge people with the same measuring stick you want people to measure you!

when there is no water, the sewer is backing up, the car is broke and your a single mom with 6 kids.

It’s not as easy to get help as they say. 2 nights ago a man beat his girlfriend (not the first time he had done this) they later went to a gas station where the girl ran to people getting gas begging for help and even tried to hide under a truck. 3 men, including one pumping gas into the truck she was hiding under, stood back and allowed the boyfriend to pull her out from under the truck, slung her over his shoulder, while she kicked and screamed for help, and threw her back in the car. No one helped her. No one listened to her pleas. They were found the next day. This clip is from a report from the police department saying if your a victim of domestic violence you can get help. And it’s bull shit! People have asked when I first wanted out and why I stayed after that point. It’s because I knew, just like most women do, that they system is broken. That the public will sit idly by, that unless your almost dead it probably wasn’t “that bad”. That there is only token gestures of “help”. That you will most likely have to deal with your abuser again and now, Since you tried to get help, they are even more mad and more dangerous. as a victim you will have people blame you, you will be victimized again by the system set up to help you and you will be left to figure it out on your own. You will be responsible for your safety. If I could do it again I’d just run. I’d try and disappear. I can’t do that now. Now I’m here. And I’m going to fight. Fight for our freedom. Fight for our safety. Fight to make changes so more women don’t have to be stuck in a broken System with no hope. Fight to not become another statistic. I’m not going away and I’m not going to stop!