Wk of 6.20.18

Sadly, it really goes to show how important mental health is and how seriously it needs to be taken. The stigma that follows mental illness doesn't help. People shouldn't be ashamed to accept that they need help and also shouldn't be ashamed to get the help they need. Mental illness isn't a sign of weakness. The way the rest of the body gets exhausted or falls ill sometimes is the same way the brain also needs help from time to time. It's a shame, (especially where I come from), that people who speak up are often shut down or told that they are exaggerating things. Some of these people are able to weather the storm, hide it well and are able to live with it, others unfortunately are not. More awareness is needed and people should be given a safe space and encouraged to speak up and get help. Also, I never really put much thought into the terms used by the media to portray suicide but looking at it now, what was said in the article makes a lot of sense. Mental illness is a battle, sometimes the illness wins. Using terms like "committing suicide" doesn't take that into consideration. The media has to do better. Choice of words matter: to the grieving family and also to the readers that might be going through something similar.