Thread by @HockeyBabbler

i think i end up saying some permutation of this every year, but

if you truly want to be an ally to those struggling with mental health concerns, you should talk too.

and notice the ways in which you talk about mental illness.

#BellLetsTalk

i hate that #BellLetsTalk becomes a, "hey folks who are already hurting, please expose your hurt or you will suffer f o r e v e r" thing

is it good to reach out to someone if you need help? YES absolutely.

here are some things i'd like to share with folks who want to be allies:

-stop assuming evil people are crazy, and stop calling people crazy because they've done something evil.

this is a big one.

maybe the evil person really does have mental health issues. whatever. when that's the first thing you say about evil...we notice.

imagine a world where every time someone committed a murder, the first thing people did was shake their heads and say, "tsk, that's what happens when you have hepatitis" or "it's such a shame we have such poor hepatitis treatment in this country."

like

what???

#BellLetsTalk

there are plenty of people who have mental illness who manage to get through their lives without committing atrocities.

so, y'know.

maybe knock it off.

i'm not perfect about this, it's been deeply engrained by societal teachings. but that's what you need to #BellLetsTalk about

so many people who understand that correllation != causation seem to forget that, anyway.

-don't just say you'll be there for people. if you can't handle the emotional labor (and it is labor) of hearing rough shit, you have every right to say so! (cont'd) #BellLetsTalk

but if you *can* listen, please do. #BellLetsTalk

flip side of that, folks with mental health issues, it ain't your job to carry everyone else's burdens. it is completely okay to say, "hey, i don't have the energy to handle this right now. i'm sorry. here's a resource for you:"

-mentally ill people don't owe you their story. we aren't here to parade our struggles for you. the correct response to "hey, i have [anxiety/depression/whatever]" isn't "oh hey, tell me what happened to you #BellLetsTalk"

it's "what can i do to help? or would you prefer space?"

even more than just saying that? actually being there. because sometimes, truth be told, i can't even answer those questions. i freeze up.

but in those moments i've had friends offer to hang, bring me snacks, share their favorite book with me.

it means the world. #BellLetsTalk

anyway, i think that's all i have spoons for and also i need to get to work.

but please, let's stop gawking at mental illness and start treating it for what it is. illness. like any other illness.

not that we're great about illness as a society, but... #BellLetsTalk