Mental Health Advocates seem to be hiding behind the “we are not experts” plea as a way to save themselves from the responsibility of conducting research. You are not a mental health advocate just because you’ve been through trauma, or label yourself as an empath. People need help with their mental health, but they need the right kind of help.

You want to be a better mental health advocate? Here’s my list:

1. If you are going to share your story with others, make sure its relevant to the person who is asking for the help…you aren’t hosting a TED Talk.

2. If you are taking on this role, you need to be able to leave everyone else’s problems “at the door” when you are done, and not let their problems become yours.

3. If you don’t know about something…look it up…or just ask. Don’t assume you know everything. Even if you are an “expert” on something, everyone experiences trauma and emotions differently.

4. DO MORE RESEARCH. Make suggestions and offer resources, it is their job to do the work on their own after that. You can’t make a horse drink water…even if you splash the water in their face.

5. Get a grip on your own mental health and ways to cope with your traumas.

6. Don’t post naked photos online.

7. Advocate for people to help themselves.

Keep on Pushin’

Sources shown in episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VllQV2EOg90

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uedrdcksMmE&t=70s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd2E7wmAJ2s

https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/June-2020/What-Does-It-Mean-to-Be-a-Mental-Health-Advocate

General resources and help:

Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7: 800-273-8255

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

https://mhanational.org/finding-help

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment

Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/pushingboundariespodcast/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-boundaries/id1487906837