We don’t have to be clinical experts to know how to help each other

By Staff Sgt. Dana Cowell

Suicide Prevention Program Manager, Wisconsin National Guard

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs– June 1, 2011

“I know everything I am, from a daughter to a smoker, but most importantly I know I am a spiritual being having a human experience.”

These were the closing words given by one of four brave individuals who stood up to share their stories of recovery at The Rave in La Crosse in , May 2.  May was Mental Health Awareness Month and on May 2, The Rave — short for “Recovery Avenue,” a private mental health service provider — set aside two hours to allow people to come in and talk to others about what it is like to live each day with a variety of mental health issues.

In his opening remarks, the director of The Rave asked the audience if we could think of anyone who, when in a moment of crisis, screamed out, “Help, I need a mental health provider!” Most audience members shook their heads or just smiled and laughed. He went on to say that, regardless of the crisis, it should be no mystery that what helps us the most is each other. By baring their souls and talking about their problems, people can continue to heal and those around them can get a better understanding of “daily survivors” of mental health issues.

Those that stood up and told their stories ran the gamut of backgrounds, from an 18-year-old African American male who was abused as a young child to a 50-year-old white female who started life as a child from a wealthy family and ended up spending most of her life in and out of hospitals and homeless shelters. After listening to all of the stories, something that stood out the most was that mental health issues do not discriminate. They have the power to grab hold of anyone at any time — yet, despite this fact, all of those that shared stated that they refused to let their illness define them. They refused to give up their mind, body, or their soul to mental illness and that with help they would learn to cope and survive one day at a time.

As someone who does not have any sort of medical background, I continue to be impressed with the underlying message I have taken away from many conferences and meetings — the power of genuine human connection has the ability to make all the difference in the world to someone who may be struggling just to get through everyday life.

Helping someone heal doesn’t require a doctor or any sort of medical counseling — anyone can listen. Anyone can refer someone else to a supportive resource. Anyone can give another person a reassuring hug or handshake.

If everyone would be more accepting, more tolerable of others, then maybe anyone who finds them self struggling may find the ability to heal by simply reaching out to the person next to them. Making a genuine human connection to another human being, the effect could be endless — so take the time to make one.

Do you have any stories of recovery — or daily survival with mental health issues — that might help someone who thinks they are all alone?