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I have a lot of mixed and complicated feelings about #BellLetsTalk 
. I hate that something that's created barriers in my life has to be funded by a private company practicing corporate social responsibility.
. I hate that something that's created barriers in my life has to be funded by a private company practicing corporate social responsibility.
Really annoys me that #BellLetsTalk gets shares from people that I see gossip, judge, and be shitty about others who are clearly living with mental illness. But gotta be performative for the social media likes!
gets shares from people that I see gossip, judge, and be shitty about others who are clearly living with mental illness. But gotta be performative for the social media likes!
And in Ontario it takes an average of 273 days for an adult suffering from mental health crisis to get help *after* they reach out for help, which most never do. Men especially are prone to commit suicide 3.5x as often as anyone else. Men don't get to be vulnerable.
People sharing #BellLetsTalk are often the same who judge their fellow students, coworkers etc for taking time off *too often*.
Most people with severe mental illness know to call in sick with the flu, because PTSD, OCD, etc., doesn't get taken seriously.
are often the same who judge their fellow students, coworkers etc for taking time off *too often*. Most people with severe mental illness know to call in sick with the flu, because PTSD, OCD, etc., doesn't get taken seriously.
Then there's the whole "talking about it breaks the stigma." Uhh sort of. If you only talk about it online but treat people in your life like garbage when they are anxious, nervous, don't perform the way you want/need them to at work etc., then you are the stigma.
There are so many cliques and 'mean girls'-esque groups in real life at school and work that bully the *hell* out of others who they see as weaker. Usually people who present as less confident are struggling just to show up, then these bullies destroy them.
If #BellLetsTalk had a magical way of tracking who performed mental illness acceptance online but acted like a bully in real life they could triple the money they donate overnight.
had a magical way of tracking who performed mental illness acceptance online but acted like a bully in real life they could triple the money they donate overnight.
Ok final one: Medications to keep you healthy and able to show up and perform 'normally' are expensive. Depending which ones, dosages, and how many you take, you can easily spend $500 a month just to get a job just to buy more meds. It isn't a great system. #BellLetsTalk
Oops one more: Those medications often have brutal, debilitating side effects. Prone to stomach issues, headaches, brain fog, insomnia/sleeping too often. Masking one problem with meds often creates several others. #BellLetsTalk