staceybooks

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and every year, I pause to reflect, not as a professional, not as a leader, but as a human being who has walked through the fire and lived to talk about it.

This month matters to me because I don’t just advocate for mental health, I live it. I fight it. And truthfully, I’ve barely survived it.

I’ve battled recurring depression, PTSD, anxiety, self-sabotage, and the kind of childhood trauma that leaves a lasting imprint on your nervous system and your soul. My suicidal thoughts began when I was just 13. Since then, I’ve tried to take my own life twice, both times brought on by someone else’s words and actions that pushed me to the edge. And if I’m being honest, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve almost done it.

But I’m still here.

And I know I’m not alone. I work with people every day who carry their own hidden wounds. We come from different backgrounds, different circumstances, but we share a deep understanding of pain, survival, and the complicated journey of healing. We are survivors.

The students we serve? They are no different. Many of them are fighting battles far beyond what most people could even imagine. They are still living in their own version of hell. And if you think you’ve seen pain, I challenge you, sit down with one of them. Hear their story. I promise you, it will shake you.

That’s why it cuts so deep when I see people enter this work, especially in nonprofits or support roles, without doing their own inner work. This is human work, and it demands more than just passion or a paycheck. It requires emotional maturity, empathy, and the courage to confront your own biases.

Nonprofit spaces often emphasize trauma-informed care. That means being aware of microaggressions. It means understanding that every word you speak carries weight. It means being kind, not just when it’s easy, but when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or challenging. If you can’t meet that standard, this isn’t the place for you.

You cannot support others while refusing to reflect on yourself.

I often tell my team that “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson is one of my favorite songs. Because real change doesn’t start with systems or slogans, it starts with the person staring back at you. If you want to make a difference, you have to do the inner work first.

If you’re struggling, please know that help exists. You are not alone.

If you’re working in this field, be brave enough to do the work it takes to truly support others.

If you don’t understand mental health, don’t ignore it. Learn. Grow. Ask questions. Get uncomfortable.

Because one careless comment could be someone’s final straw. One moment of cruelty, dismissal, or indifference could be the thing that pushes someone off the edge. And none of us should ever carry that kind of weight.

Mental health is real. Healing is possible. And kindness is non-negotiable.

Let’s do better…for ourselves and for each other.

If this resonated with you or you know someone who needs to hear it, share it. Your voice might be the lifeline someone else is waiting for.

#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #TraumaInformedCare #ManInTheMirror #YouMatter #SurvivorsTogether #BeKind #DoTheWork