My life as a mental health worker got more serious than ever before

It's been a month and some since I last logged in on World Pulse because I had to make some real adjusting to my life as a mental health worker.

Mental health is beginning to matter in every sense of the word, maybe and earnestly just like physical health after all these years. The Covid-19 pandemic has made us so aware of our mental health, and sadly we had to witness so much anxiety, stress and panic to start paying attention. Indeed, when the first suicide was put on the web, a few still thought that was a jerk who would take their own life because of a ''simple crisis'. Hmm can we say this again? Is this crisis any simple? A few days ago it was an ER doctor in the US. And some we will never hear of because of the shame and pain which still surrounds mental health issues and challenges.

I am a mental health worker and up to the pandemic, my practice was pretty quiet. A few clients and that was it. I focused on raising awareness which I still do, but few people reached out for help although many watched my live videos and all, and some reached to encourage me.

I have myself to take care of too, living with PTSD and yes the past hit me hard as well. I had to pull myself together and intensify my outreach. Then more and more people reached out including some medical personnel from the hospital I had worked in two years ago. One referral led to another and it waawas business as usual for me again.

I decided to cut out all other activities which were priority for me at the time, until I found my bearings, including wrapping up with my online semester as a Commonwealth Scholar. I had already applied and gotten an extension and didn't want to apply for a second one. Sticking to some sort of routine and meaningful work is also important in moments of dire uncertainty like this one.

My work as a mental health worker is also for the larger part free, because I know many don't have the means right now and just like giving hungry people food, holding mental space for those who need it is my contribution to the community now.

I am glad to be here again, I hope I truly make this day a social media and World Pulse catching up day.

Let's take care of our mental health, am an inbox away for anyone who wants to reach out. May is also Mental health awareness month, celebrated in the US since 1949, and I wish us all more awareness, light and love.

Marie