#MyTipsForMentalHealth is the hashtag bringing together the mental health community
Did you know survivors of natural disasters can experience post-traumatic stress long after the experience has occurred? With so much devastation, and division in the world, seeing #MyTipsForMentalHealth is a beacon of hope and a reminder that you are not alone.
September is Suicide Prevention Month and here is a way to keep the mental health conversation going. This hashtag became a trending topic and included participation from mental health organizations such as Mental Health America, National Council of Behavioral Health, and Stamp Out Stigma.
I chatted with the creator, Twitter user @ShutUpAmanda. Amanda began using the hashtag Sunday night and it quickly became a trending topic. People are still using the hashtag today.
“I spent 30 years suffering alone be it from isolation, stigma, or indifference. I think back on the time I spent suffering and think, man, If only I had known.”
She shared a personal notebook entry from three years ago with the tweet, There’s Hope.
The sense of community is created when people are sharing their experiences. Being transparent serves as a reminder to others that they are are not alone.
How has the hashtag been able to break through all the news on Twitter and reach hundreds of users? It may be that the topic is providing what people are in need of, a space to share, educate, and relate.
“While anxiety, fear, and depression are normal for some, a lot of the world is feeling it for the first time. I think it makes them a little more ready to listen.”
A few themes from the tips shared include:
Language: Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend. Be mindful of the words you use to describe a person with a mental illness.
Stigma: Do not be ashamed of your mental health condition.
Support: Community is important
Mental Health conditions can be referred to as an invisible disease because you can’t always “see” someone experiencing it, however, the effects can be physical.
“It affects your sleep, your appetite, your body, just as much as any flu could. It's not a feeling, it's a disease and it’s time we make people see this,” says Amanda.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help and support.
