The 36th Annual Mercy Nursing Lecture
Written by Kaylee Zukowski
Initially, I wasn’t very enthusiastic about this event. I feared that it might just be a boring discussion of topics that don’t connect well with my life. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this lecture was incredibly interesting and encompassed topics that all people can relate to. The main topic of the lecture was mental health and the resources that are available for those who struggle with their mental well-being. One resource they had mentioned was NAMI, or National Alliance on Mental Illness. This organization works to advocate for those who have mental illnesses and calls to light the experiences of individuals who have struggled or are struggling. There is also a helpline where trained professionals are able to listen or talk you down during a hard time.The helpline isn’t exclusively for emergencies, you can call if you just need someone to talk to about something, or if you are overwhelmed with emotion.
NAMI Helpline:
Call: 1-800-950-NAMI
Text: 62640
Three presenters spoke during the event. Each of them told about their struggles with mental health and how they overcame those struggles to become who they are today. Their stories were astonishing and inspiring. They were each successful in their career paths despite what they had been through. This can apply to any student, adult, or child; we all can strive to become the best possible versions of ourselves and work to overcome the darkness that may cloud our minds.
I’m sure that we all have experienced sadness when we lost something, whether that was a person, or was related to a failure of some kind. It’s possible that people are still struggling with sadness or depression, maybe even anxiety about something with school or otherwise. I’ve had my fair share of experiences with mental health: anxiety, depression, PTSD, you name it. The best thing that I did for myself was receive help and reach out when I was losing hope. I only hope that those who feel the same would reach out to a friend or a trusted adult, despite how difficult that may be. As a fellow individual with diagnosed mental illnesses, I believe it’s important to advocate for each other and speak about these difficult topics, so that a bright future may be a possibility for all.
Featured Photograph: University of Saint Joseph Department of Nursing
