Hope for a Better Day

Many of you have been reading my blog for awhile. Some of you have just recently started following and reading my blog. Either way, I hope that you have learned something about living with mental illnesses. One of my main goals for writing on this blog is to raise awareness.

A few minutes ago, I came across an article on Facebook about Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse, NY opening a psych unit for children, due to the shortages of places for children and teens dealing with mental illnesses in the area.

I could not be more excited for this project. I personally was on a committee that worked to raise money for this hospital when it first opened. I am incredibly encouraged in the fact that they are working so hard to make sure that children and teens with mental illnesses get the help that they need.

We truly are blessed to live in a country in which people with mental illness are able to access mental health services. Millions of people worldwide (even in the US) do not receive the services they need, somewhat due to stigmatization and lack of hospitals.

I was in my early teens when I first started noticing symptoms. At age 15, I had my first inpatient unit journey in which they diagnosed me with "possible bipolar." Gaining the support I needed at the time, I was able to work through many of the issues I was dealing with. For the most part, I felt safe in the hospital as a young teenager. It was there that I first met others that I could relate to.

Mental health services are not a luxury; they are a necessity for millions of people. I would not have come as far or overcome so many challenges if it were not for the support, encouragement and love that I have received from all of my peers and staff at all of the hospitals I have been through.

If I was asked if I would rather have life without mental illness or life with mental illness, I would say that I honestly would rather have mental illnesses because I have met some of the most amazing people throughout my time in treatment, both inpatient and outpatient.

Everybody with mental illnesses needs to feel loved and supported. Keep opening doors for children with mental illnesses. Stop people from discriminating against mental illness. Allow people to ask questions and learn about mental illness. Listen to the voices of the unseen, unheard and misunderstood. We all deserve love.