A Needed Reminder

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Last week I gave some talks at schools in Cork. It’s something I haven’t done in awhile. To be honest, I get more nervous talking to teenagers than adults. I think it’s because it feels like a bigger responsibility. So I don’t want to fuck it up – they’re the most important demographic I can speak to, because they’re young enough to actually instill real change in how they navigate mental health.

After the talks were done I got DMs from some of the students. They just wanted to say thanks, that the talks had helped. And these messages reminded me of why doing this for the last ten years is so important. Because some days are harder than others, and it feels like nothing is changing. Anyway, they reminded me that by being courageous and sharing our story, we can really help people. It encourages them to share their story.

This is something we can all do. You don’t have to be on stage. You can talk about your mental health wherever you are, whenever you feel like it. By doing this it encourages the people around us to do the same. It lets them know that this is a conversation we are open to. And that’s no small thing – to create a space where people feel they can be open and honest.

I was reminded of this on Friday. That talking about this stuff moves the needle. Even when it feels like it doesn’t. Maybe even especially then. And that was a reminder I needed.