The Importance of Mental Health Advocacy
When I was a little girl, my parents divorced and I moved in with my mom as she began her nearly 30-year-long battle with depression, bipolar disorder, and suicidal ideation. As I sat in front of the TV wondering how to fix sadness and listening to her cry herself to sleep every night, I never felt more alone in all my life. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know that organizations like AFSP or NAMI existed. I felt stuck. But I knew that I wanted to get involved. I knew I wanted to help others. To help prevent another little girl from feeling all alone
Fast-forward to college and I did get involved. I graduated with a BA in Psychology, but I didn’t want to be a therapist or psychiatrist. I knew that path wasn’t for me. And I felt stuck again. So what could I do? What can you do? If I only knew then what I understand now, that there are so many ways to get involved.
The beauty of our democratic system is that all citizens have the right to advocate. We all have the ability to speak up. To reach out. To share resources. To stand for something we believe in.
One of the most common misconceptions surrounding mental health advocacy is the notion that advocates ‘have it all together.’ But that’s not true. The best advocates are those who know the struggle. They know what’s like to struggle to get out of bed. Or what it's like to watch a loved one drown in the depths of despair and be unable to help set them free.
Despite my own public appearances, I still have days where I struggle with self-care; my mind frozen by anxiety and my face splotched with tears. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make a difference. And you can too. Here are a few of my favorite ways to advocate.
Ways to Advocate for Mental Health
Writing and sending letters to our elected officials
Advocating for policy change
Signing petitions, like the ones on Change.org
Registering to vote and voting
Going up to Carson City during our next legislative session and talking directly to your policymakers
Talking to your family, friends and colleagues about mental health issues and the importance of advocacy
Using social media to share articles, stories, and news
Break the stigma by talking about your own mental health
Attending mental health community events like NAMI Walks or AFSP’s Walk out of the Darkness
Volunteering with local mental health nonprofits is a great way to get involved
Supporting products, services, and companies that align with mental health values
Consider Donating to a local mental health nonprofit if you don’t have extra time to volunteer
Regularly sharing resources with your family and friends
Practicing what you preach - practice self-care and setting healthy boundaries
Reaching out when you are struggling - which can sometimes be the hardest thing to do - but that is advocating for yourself
Mental Health Advocacy in the State
Here in Nevada, things move slowly. We are one of only four states with a legislative session every other year, so it takes a while to see change. But that also means that our policymakers are more accessible, and our grassroots efforts have more time to get organized. Which is good news because…
Organization is key to making a difference in local politics.
If you want to get organized as a mental health advocate but don’t know where to start, I recommend starting with NAMI SMARTS Advocacy Training. In this training, you'll learn how to tell your story in three minutes or less and in an effective way that will get your policymakers to listen and do something.
Our elected officials are just people, many of whom do not have the education or expertise to make decisions on healthcare or mental health policy. It is up to us, the experts in the community, to educate our elected officials about the importance of protecting mental health services and funding. It is up to us to get organized and tell our elected officials what we need, why we need it, and how to get it done. It is up to us to come up with solutions, not just problems.
And it is also up to us to take care of ourselves, our loved ones, and our community. If you are looking for local mental health resources, here are a few of my favorites:
A Few Nevada Mental Health Resources
The Mental Health Moment
NAMI Nevada and its affiliates: NAMI Southern Nevada, NAMI Northern Nevada, NAMI Western Nevada
AFSP Nevada
Foundation for Recovery
Hope Means Nevada
PACT Coalition
Care Coalition
If you are looking for more information on any of the resources, or would like a presentation on this topic, please reach out here.
