A Note On Mental Health Day

The theme for this year's National Mental Health Day is mental health in an unequal world.

Over the years, I have talked to friends and heard stories online from people who do not have access to the professional help they need and/or a support system from their family.

Last year, when I was struggling more with my anxiety than I ever had, my family stood by me. My family supported my search for a therapist, and my decision to start medication. I understood then, and still do understand, how much of a privilege that is. I thanked my mom constantly for being so supportive, and she would say that of course she was, but not everyone has that. Some people have family members who refuse to believe that mental illnesses are even real.

Finding a therapist that I could relate to, who was like me, was very easy for me to do. I called the first office I found online and made an appointment with the first therapist that took my family's insurance. It's been over a year, and we’re still going strong.

That is an enormous privilege. Whether it is a lack of access to services in general, or lack of access to professionals who they can relate to on the basis of class, race, religion, identity, or sexual orientation. This is unacceptable.

Everyone deserves access to the help they need, regardless of their circumstances.

On my Resources page, there are links to resources for the LGBTQ+ community as well as people of color. I hope you can find the help you need, because you deserve it.

–Abbie