Your Mental Health is so important

Your Mental Health is so important

Taking care of yourself mentally and emotionally is vital and we need to talk about it.

by Luke Waltham

On the 20th of July 2017, the world heard the news of Chester Bennington's death. Chester, who was the singer of the famous band Linkin Park, had committed suicide. He had been suffering from depression for a long time. His death not only caused much shock, horror and sadness around the world, but it also was a massive reminder to us all that our mental health and well being are so important. 

In response to Chester's death, Fall Out Boy band member, Pete Wentz, tweeted something exceptionally important which society really needs to think about:

Mental health and people's well being have not been discussed openly enough. Instead, illnesses such as depression have either been sensationalized or made to seem less serious. The sad reality is that so many individuals are suffering from some form or type of mental illness and it isn't being treated properly because of the stigmas and behind them. In addition to this, we need to realise that Chester is one of millions of people who suffered from depression and had suicidal thoughts. It isn't rare; it's extremely common. 

On a personal level, this topic hits home because I did suffer from depression in my early teenage years due to a number of reasons. I was fortunate enough to overcome it but for some people, it is extremely difficult and nearly impossible to do so. 

Furthermore, I strongly encourage all of you to be open, accepting and empathetic towards those who are suffering from mental illnesses or are battling with their mental health. Treat them like normal human beings and be understanding because, honestly, mental illnesses are some of the toughest things for someone to go through whether it is temporary or permanent. 

Finally, I encourage each and every one of you to talk about mental health and issues around it more often. Speak about it with your friends, family and colleagues; it could be extremely useful and helpful and it may help in educating those who still stigmatize mental health or aren't even aware that they could be suffering.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From Huffington: Janelle Monae's New Album Tackles Critical Issues

This review article was originally written by Luke Waltham and published on HuffPost SA. You can read the original piece here . REVIEW: Janelle Monae's New Album Tackles Critical Issues Monae essentially used her album to empower people of colour, women of colour, queer women of colour, and the queer community as a whole. Many have been praising Janelle Monae's latest album, " Dirty Computer ". Along with its riveting  visual aesthetic , the album raises crucial intersectional issues to do with racism, sexism, homophobia, queerphobia and bigotry. Monae essentially used her album to empower people of colour, women of colour, queer women of colour, the queer community as a whole, and all individuals who feel marginalised and excluded by prescribed "norms". Context In the visual album, humans who did not conform to societal norms were labelled "dirty computers" and had to "be cleaned". This process involved their memories being...
Read more

From Huffington: 'Black Panther' Strikes A Blow Against White Supremacy

This opinion piece was originally written by Luke Waltham and published on HuffPost SA. You can read the original piece here . 'Black Panther' Strikes A Blow Against White Supremacy In its opening week, the Marvel movie grossed R2.76-billion – but its triumphant black-consciousness themes are its real victory. " Black Panther " has been a box-office phenomenon since its release. In its opening week, the Marvel movie  grossed $235-million  (~R2.76-billion) and is on its way to  breaking box office records . But regardless of its financial success, it is also a groundbreaking film with regard to social justice and the empowerment of black people worldwide – the messages built into its plot are a powerful symbol of defiance and resistance against the white supremacy and racism that still dominate spaces today. Decolonisation Throughout the film, the audience enjoys the technological and educational greatness of Wakanda, sending a powerful message to those...
Read more

Harry Styles is not a womanizer

Image
Harry Styles is not a womanizer We need to be critical of media groups and individuals who want to mislabel individuals. by Luke Waltham Recently, I have observed how toxic certain media groups and individuals can be when it comes to criticising, judging and labeling certain celebrities and influencers. One of the celebrity icons who has been mislabeled the most is Harry Styles. Many Harry Styles's fans and One Direction fans have been frustrated with the way the media has depicted Harry Styles since they have misrepresented him on a number of occasions. In the latest reports, certain groups have promoted this idea that Harry is a womanizer and allegedly objectifies and mistreats women. However, this is the complete opposite of  who Harry Styles is. In interviews, in person and on social media, Harry Styles openly advocates and supports equal rights for all races, genders and sexual orientations. In addition to this, Harry Styles has supported and is a member of ...
Read more