So, let's spill the tea on mental health convos, shall we? It's all about hitting them up with that classic "how are you doing?"
But here's the real deal – you gotta actually care about the answer and listen. It's the secret sauce to forming those real connections. Asking that question—and truly listening for an answer— is the foundation of how we connect with each other.
I learned this important lesson while growing up in a small town. When you live in a rural community, you are part of a family, maybe a faith community, and a community of neighbours who all come together to help, and as dysfunctional as it was, it was also beautiful.
Whether helping meant sharing, lending a hand during tough times or inviting a neighbour in for a cup of coffee, we were all about that community vibe and reached out often. We cared about checking in to see how others in the community were doing. That lesson isn't just for small-town folks; it's for everyone, even the busy bees in the urban jungle.
Talking mental health isn’t your run-of-the-mill chit-chat with your neighbor about the weather. Nope, when you dive into those convos, you better be ready to bring your A-game. Create that safe space, take the time to vibe with each other, and spill the real tea on how you're holding up, especially during these challenging times. We need each other.
There is no denying that mental health stigma is still hanging around like yesterday's bad hair day. That's why we need to make these convos the new normal. But you know what? I'm feeling pretty optimistic. More peeps are dishing out their own stories, hitting up social media to chat about mental health, and throwing shade at leaders to step up their game. Hopefully in a few years we’ll have better services to support our beautiful minds.
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