Mental health is obviously a big theme around here. Not just the nitty gritty details of mental illness and suicide, but the impact of motherhood on mental health. The every day stuff, as well as the hard to read and hard to think about topics.
This May 2013 is Mental Health Awareness Month and also Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month so its an important time for me. I try my best throughout the year to stand up for mental health and be open about my own struggles and successes. But I think right now, this year, in this time, its more important to me than ever.
The world around us can be filled with so much pain, and so much joy. For someone like myself with mental illness, I know I need to latch onto as much joy as I can find to keep the bad days at bay. I also arm myself with information. Information from parents just like me, as well as from medical sources.
So this month I’d like to share as much information as I can about mental health.
I also want to celebrate my mental illness.
Yes, you read that right. I’m going to celebrate it. Mental illness is not who I am, but it is an important part of me and who I’ve become as a woman, wife and mom. Its lead me to many passions and has brought so many wonderful people into my life.
Here’s a snippet of some of the things going on. I hope you’ll drop by and take a look. If you’re sharing stories of mental health as well, please let me know. Community is so important. Realizing we are not alone in this can make a world of difference.
- Now through May 10-Enter to Win Tickets to Seattle Mom Prom, the ultimate ladies night out and benefit event for Postpartum Support International of Washington. Enter HERE.
- May 1-30-Postpartum Support International Blog Hop. 2013 Theme: Maternal Mental Health – Recovery and Coping Skills. If you’re interested in joining this blog hop, please find information and guidelines here. Follow on Twitter at #PSIBlog
- May 1-Free Seminar on Living with Bipolar. I’ll be attending a presentation by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Washington Chapter at the Hero House in Bellevue, WA at 6:30 pm. To join me please RSVP HERE. Other AFSP chapters nationwide are also holding this event. For more information visit the AFSP.
- May 4-safeTALK Training. I’ll be attending a three-hour training with the AFSP WA Chapter that prepares anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide, move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide; and connect those struggling to suicide first aid resources. To find a safeTALK training in your area, go to “Find a Training”.
- May 12-5th Annual Mother’s Day Rally at online Postpartum Progress. On Mother’s Day, Postpartum Progress will feature 24 letters to new moms, one posted each hour on the hour, from great writers who’ve been there, including me. 🙂
- May 18-Seattle Mom Prom! Benefit for Postpartum Support! Seattle, WA
- June 1-AFSP National Overnight Walk for Suicide Prevention! If you’d like to donate to the cause please do so HERE.
I’m sure more will pop up along the way. Stay tuned and I hope to see many of you online and in person as well!
Here’s to good mental health!
-Cristi
Wow! Great summary. What peaked my interest the most was the “SafeTALK” blurb. I’ve never heard o that before and we have a lot of teen suicides where I live.
Hi Jennifer! Yes I hadn’t heard of it either until I got invited to this one locally. I’ve always wanted more structured suicide prevention training. 🙂
Love all the stuff you’re participating in! I may call our local library to see about joining a panel of folks with mental illness who are going to be answering questions from the community on what it’s like living with mental illness and achieving recovery, leading successful lives.
Great work, Cristi!!
That sounds really interesting Jenn. I’d be anxious to speak in front of people for sure! Good for you.