By Cheryl Smith
July is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the way things are going it needs to be a year-round experience.
I’ve had friends who know and love me to call and check on my well-being because they know the work I do and that all the stuff going on has to be challenging.
I’m imploring you to let someone know if something is bothering you.
Share because life can be hard. And we’re all dealing with issues. You are not alone.
Admittedly I am on a roller-coaster ride, actually mentally and physically.
Look at the assassination of Sonya Massey. One friend called and told me not to look at the video. ”Just take it from me, it is really bad,” she said.
I know what she’s talking about because I’ve said time and time again that while folks say experience is the best teacher, there are some things you don’t need to experience on your own. Take the word of someone else.
Some people say heroin will give you a high like nothing you’ve ever had before — one time —and the thing that gets you hooked is you will always be chasing that high but you will never achieve it again.
The bad thing is you keep on doing it over and over again because it makes you feel somewhat good, but the devastation to you, your body, your family, your community; and ultimately, the world I’m telling you, it’s enough to challenge you mentally. I’ve seen the devastation. I’ve seen folks who have suffered. I see how the world has suffered. There has been the loss of jobs, breakdown of families, increase in Child Protective Services cases, deaths, and more.
You see, many folks did not learn from the experience of others. I know to stay away from heroin!
My mind swirls when I think of the countless people who have lost so much because of drugs.
And then we have the cyber assaults on the likes of Simone Biles, Angel Reese, Sha’Carri Richardson, Vice President Kamala Harris, and so many other Black Women; like even the person you view in the mirror.— yes hurt people hurt themselves.
All of this hurts me to the core. Some think Black women don’t stand a chance because everyone feels like they can dump on us.
Well, on behalf of Black women, let me tell you. You’ve got another “think” coming. So I’m going to keep on uplifting Black Women and I’m going to urge you to do so. Let’s stop with the character assassinations, physical and mental attacks, and the mockery of Black Women.
Compassion goes a long way for those dealing with mental challenges.
