Kyla Ross, Basic Needs Coordinator; Marcele Reola, Intake and Service Coordinator; and Rachel White, Development and Communications Manager
Mental health illnesses affect more than 20% of American adults. That’s more than 50 million people according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Locally, several South Hills suburbs are rated as having moderately high levels of mental health need, including Baldwin, Whitehall, and Dormont.
At SHIM, we strive to holistically help neighbors in need- that includes neighbors facing mental health issues. While we don’t have counselors on staff, many of our employees have completed mental health training to better equip themselves to help. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we spoke with service coordinator Marcele and basic needs coordinator Kyla about what we can do to help neighbors facing mental health issues.
Mental health issues are more common than we think, affecting people of all races, religions, cultural backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses. Just like a cancer diagnoses, a mental health diagnosis requires a treatment plan.
Marcele’s personal experience with mental health challenges informs her work of helping others. She helps people advocate for themselves and their loved ones, sharing resources and connecting people to mental health professionals. She is open about her own journey, empowering others to find their path.
“It’s part of who I am but that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me.” -Marcele
Kyla partly attributes her productivity to her bipolar diagnosis. Excellent at breaking down problems and finding solutions, she embraces the ways in which her active mind and attention to details benefit her work.
“Bipolar is my superpower. If my brain didn’t work the way it does, I wouldn’t be able to jump in and do my job the way I do.” -Kyla
Helping our neighbors includes giving them space to be themselves. Sometimes people feel ashamed to talk about their struggles, as mental health issues can carry stigma. We can help by being good listeners.
“The more we talk about it the more we remove and dissolve the stigma. You might not have all the right answers, but just listening will help.” -Marcele
Marcele also recommends becoming educated about mental health. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness and resolve Crisis Services can empower people to help their loved ones. The more we know about mental health, the easier it becomes to address challenges. Even children can learn more through social and emotional learning. We can teach them the vocabulary they need to express their feelings and equip them with the tools they need to build healthy lives.
For those struggling with mental health issues, Kyla and Marcele agree that persistence is key. Finding the right therapist or the right dose of medicine can take time. Sometimes things don’t work as well as you’d hoped, and the process can make you feel vulnerable. Try not to get discouraged and remember that transparency is important in facing hurdles.
“Therapists are like shoes. Once you find the pair that fits, it’s amazing!” -Marcele
Kyla remembers keeping her mental health struggles a secret because she watched other people in her life face judgement while fighting similar battles. She didn’t want her diagnosis to define her, but being open about it gave her the freedom to live and thrive as her true self.
“You don’t catch this off a doorknob. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just like any other medical disease. It can be hereditary.” -Kyla
People don’t realize the harm they do when they discount mental health illness. When ‘crazy’ behavior is described as ‘bipolar’ or ‘schizophrenic’ without context, it hurts those who are managing their diagnoses. Sometimes people misunderstand the effects of these diagnoses and discount or invalidate the feelings and behaviors of those with these disorders.
“I’m a woman. I’m African American. I’m a single mom. And I’ve got bipolar disorder. I’ve been judged all my life, and this is just one more layer.” -Kyla
Marcele agrees that people joke around too much about mental health without realizing the toll that it takes. If people understood it better, there wouldn’t be so much stigma. Sometimes people fight a diagnosis because they don’t want to admit that something might be wrong with them. However, embracing the diagnosis is freeing and empowering, allowing you to find the tools you need to move forward. Identify your triggers, set your boundaries, and find the mental health support you need to be your best self.
Read more from our SHIM family on our Blog page.
