I began advocating for mental health when I was 14 years old at a crisis hotline called Teen Line in Los Angeles, California. Mental health training changed my life. I learned how to support my peers, and I learned what mental health issues consisted of. Most importantly, I got to speak with people one-on-one and hear their real stories surrounding mental health.
Advocacy has been an outlet for me to learn more about myself and the people around me. When I am advocating for a piece of mental health legislation, building themes for conferences, taking crisis calls, or engaging in community events, I feel the most empowered. This is because I understand how personal mental health issues can be and how powerful it is to talk about these struggles.
Advocacy for mental health has shaped much of my existence, providing me with a sense of purpose and meaning, unlike anything I have sought out elsewhere. Being able to work in mental health in various contexts, from education to policy to crisis intervention, I have found fulfillment through doing what I love and working towards supporting a cause that is very close to my heart. Action-based impact and human-centered work are aspects of my advocate experience that have transformed me from the inside out.
Through advocacy, I am a learner, a spokesperson, a resource, and a friend. In advocacy, I am also, though, a human being. Holding a platform within the mental health landscape is one I do not take lightly, but I must remind myself of the limits I hold as an individual.
If you are a mental health advocate, you often look outward and care deeply for the suffering of others. It can be complicated to advocate for yourself. Here, I list some of the ways you can practice this.
1) Communicate your needs and concerns with your (safe) mentors, peers/community members, and loved ones. Find safe spaces within and outside of your field.
Some of my closest friends are ones whom I have met in the advocacy space. These advocates are individuals I have been able to turn to when overworked and overwhelmed. I find it healthy to communicate with those who are both a part of my field and outside of my field to maintain a balance.
2) Mindfully check in with yourself. Engage in practices that provide you with peace and comfort (spiritual, religious, cultural, familial, individual, etc.)
Journaling is an aspect of my life that is not an addition but a necessity. As an advocate, I do not always find the time or space that I need to spend hours upon hours journaling, but rather, I find meaning in those little moments where I can express myself–to myself. Finding even ten minutes of free time and allowing for free expression by typing out my emotions, writing them onto paper, or recording an audio message is a notable source of support.
3) From time to time, note your commitments and reevaluate them in light of your “why.”
Understanding ourselves includes knowing our limits and knowing what may not feel right for us at the moment. During my time working in mental health, I have held different positions. While possessing commitments in different sectors, I continuously reevaluate these roles and ask myself if this position or work activity is in alignment with my “why.”
We need advocates in this world, but we especially need advocates who care for themselves! I am looking ahead to a world where advocates are advocating for themselves, too. We often think of who we are in terms of roles: friend, student, brother, sister, etc. I hope we can think of ourselves as humans first. We are human beings, not robots, and we deserve to operate to our fullest capacity by first ensuring we take care of ourselves before we take on larger community roles.