The journey of overcoming mental health challenges is often complex and difficult to navigate. One of the most essential resources a person can have is the support of the community around them. From the beginning of my mental health journey at the age of 16, I felt alone. If being diagnosed with depression at such a young age was not enough of a challenge, the day after receiving that life-changing diagnosis, I found out I was pregnant.

I spent many years attempting to ignore the diagnosis and self-medicate in negative ways. I experienced so many challenges being a young mother and felt stigma from many people around me. The loneliness I faced led to years of darkness that pushed me to multiple hospitalizations. I was desperate for a new way of life.

The process of getting to where I am today has come with many challenges, from navigating a diverse mental health system to finding my tribe of supporters who uplifted me in my darkest times. I found a fantastic therapist who understood my goals and pushed me to achieve more. I changed jobs, friends and environments to better connect with people who wanted to see me succeed. I also spent time finding my way back to a relationship with God. While my search for Him was not always within the walls of a church building, I can tell you that my solo, tear-filled car ride prayers were being heard and answered.

Looking back over the years, I can see that I ran from Him instead of running to Him in my darkest moments. A large part of that is from the shame and guilt I felt. I now know He was with me every step of the way and eagerly awaited me to turn back to Him.

My most recent challenge was the loss of my mother to the same mental illness that lives in me. It’s a scary thing to see how something so invisible to the world around us can make a person want to leave this world. Without the love and support of others around me, I don’t think I would be where I am today. I actively sought out a community of people who could understand the complex grief that comes from losing a loved one to suicide.

The internet and virtual calls are excellent resources I wish I had known about when I struggled so deeply in my younger years. I realized that I wasn’t alone in my grief, anger, sadness and fear. Others around me could lift me and remind me that if all the love in the world could have kept my mother here, she would be with us today. I had to learn a hard lesson in life; my God did not fail when my mother passed, nor did He fail me when things didn’t go my way when I was younger.

My mother’s death isn’t the end of her story but the beginning of mine. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to simply LIVE LIFE.

I spent many years struggling to keep my head above water while putting on a show so no one could see what I was going through. I now take time to speak up and out about mental health challenges not only to individuals experiencing it personally, but also to family members, friends and community leaders in the hopes that we can create a climate that supports individuals who are experiencing mental health challenges.

People experiencing mental health challenges can often feel misunderstood or ashamed to share their feelings and experiences with others. The isolation can deter individuals from seeking help or even staying motivated to seek treatment. However, with support from community members, individuals can be resilient and continue the fight to achieve their own version of wellness!

That is where CROP, Congregational Recovery Outreach Program, comes into the picture. CROP is a community-based, grant program, funded by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Behavioral Health Services, Division of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Services, in partnership with the Mississippi Public Health Institute. CROP’s ability to teach, train, and refer individuals to gain more knowledge about mental health is what matters the most.

CROP aims to educate communities to stop stigmas, embrace those who are struggling, and challenge the systems around us to acknowledge that mental health matters. I am forever grateful to the community members who were there for me during my struggles. I know that CROP and the Mississippi Mental Health Faith-Based Summit can help educate others and help those experiencing mental health challenges.

It’s FREE and open to the public. You are invited to the “Mississippi Mental Health Faith-Based Summit” happening on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Jackson Convention Complex, located at 105 E. Pascagoula Street, Jackson, MS 39201. To learn more or register for free visit CROP.

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