May is Mental Health Month and this is your Mental Health Moment.
This is Janisha's story...
At age 32 Janisha experienced the passing of her mother, who was her best friend. Even though Janisha was a Christian, attended church every Sunday, and taught Sunday School she continued to experience prolonged grief after her mother’s death. She felt lonely and cried every day. At her lowest point, Janisha was fired from her job as a registered nurse because she didn’t feel like going to work and didn't bother to call in.
For years, she struggled with relationships. But the day her daughter was born, Janisha stopped crying. That was the day she realized, she had been clinically depressed for five years. “God saved my life, by giving me a daughter” Janisha said.
Today, Janisha has earned her Doctorate in Nursing and is a director at a local hospital. Today, she encourages others to get professional counseling after experiencing the loss of a close friend, family member, job, or marriage.
What CanWe Do? Turn Awareness to Action
- Pray: Prayer is always in order, but sometimes we don’t feel like praying.
- Recognize that it’s ok, not to be ok: Change and loss are inevitable, but sometimes we need help navigating to a new normal.
- Check on your strong friends: Sometimes, we can’t tell that our loved ones are in trouble by looking at them. When we notice a change in actions or patterns, ask “How can I support you?” and encourage them to seek professional help.
You are not alone. We are in this together. Help is available.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the national's largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI has more than 700 Affiliates and Organizations across the country. People who work in your community are avaiable to provide support and education to those in need. Click NAMI to find more information about services in your area.