Like everyone, Russia's invasion of the Ukraine horrified me. Heartbreaking pictures of families fleeing for their lives, shattered my perception of our fragile façade of civility. Suddenly, I felt shells going off inside my weary soul. “Not again,” my heart cried. As the tanks roll across the landscape of the Ukraine, our fragile emotional worlds … Continue reading Finding your tribe
Month: April 2022
Why stigma is lethal
The first-time suicide impacted me directly was when a friend of mine took his life. As a kid, he always cracked jokes and pulled pranks, and I got to watch him grow into a wonderful, dedicated man. I can still remember standing at work, wearing my green suit, when I heard the news. I was … Continue reading Why stigma is lethal
Unpacking depression
“I was told, ‘If you are depressed, you have no excuse’” my friend, who battles depression, said to me recently. “That is just mental illness stigma,” I replied. What is mental health stigma? Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval, or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness or seek … Continue reading Unpacking depression