Bringing awareness to mental health is something of utmost importance to me. There are a many number of reasons; one of which probably stemmed from my childhood. Growing up, I noticed that this was not something our Filipino community openly talked about and many times, there was a stigma associated with it. If you talked about "your feelings" - being overwhelmed, stressed, lonely, depressed - basically anything other than happy, it was a sign of weakness, or there was something wrong with you. Now that I'm older, I see the extreme danger in keeping your feelings locked deep down inside only to eventually burst out of you, causing harm to not only yourself but to everyone around you. I have also known too many people whose lives have ended way before their prime because of their battle with depression and it breaks my heart.
So, whenever I get a chance, I like to reach out to professionals who can share tips on how to cope, or just to show support for others who are struggling. 2020 has been an unbelievable journey for most of us and many are struggling just to make ends meet or get through the day. If you are one of these people, please know that you are not alone. There is help everywhere - whether professionally or by reaching out to your friends and family. Someone is there, you just have to reach out.
Last week, I chatted with Newport Beach Psychotherapist Michelle Lopez Clark who talked about the stigma of Mental Health in the Filipino Community. @MichelleLopezClark also shares tips on how to cope during the holidays and amidst the pandemic. For parents who have teens also dealing with loneliness or depression, Michelle expresses the different ways you can help support them. In addition, for parents with young kids, Michelle gives tips on how to talk to them about the pandemic. Here is the youtube link to our interview:
Special thanks to @michellelopezclark for taking the time to share her thoughts. Michelle is also a Children's book author who will be debuting her book, "With You" March 2021. For more information on Michelle, you can head to www.michellelopezclark.com