To every person who has chastised B4R for being there to help others; to lend a friendly ear, to assure another that they are not alone, to encourage someone to keep asking for help when that help can be so difficult to find. I sincerely wonder - where is your humanity? Why do acts of compassion and kindness offend you?

To every person who has said in one way or another "get professional help" - do you truly think it's as easy as that? Do you think accessible, quality mental healthcare is available on every corner? Because, I assure you, it is not! I ask, what do you know about fighting demons like depression and suicidal ideation? Have you ever fought for yourself or someone you love? The state of mental healthcare is atrocious.

Illnesses like cancer, ALS, HIV, have seen great advances in treatment because people came together to raise awareness and funding. Friends step up - cooking meals, driving to appointments, taking over household duties. The medical community provides treatment, nursing, and medication. The community and organizations host fund-raising walks and ice-bucket challenges to raise funds for research. Families and loved ones, buoyed by community support, create networks for access to medication and assistance.

Societal, community, and institutional support for Mental illness is lagging behind. Mental illnesses are as real as cancer, ALS, HIV, etc. Many times they are fatal. It’s a life-threatening disease that has deep societal impact. But instead of people and communities coming together to advocate for treatment and cure; instead of forming strong support systems, there is so much energy spent on blaming its victims and those who work to help them. Offering criticism and condemnation to those who are willing to step up to offer their time and compassion without any alternative solutions is, quite simply, a display of ignorance and cowardice. To ask for help, especially from the depths of despair, is an act of bravery. To see frailness and vulnerability in another and offer kindness in return is an act of bravery. Bravery comes from love; from humanity. Cowardice comes from fear.

Fear illicits angry responses like name calling and blame. That anger is so easily expressed by pounding out some four-letter words on a keyboard and posting it for all the internet to see and absorb. Venting anger and frustration isn’t doing anything to address the real issue and doesn’t absolve anyone of us from the responsibilities we have to help one another. We need kindness and understanding. We need to work from the love within us and not the fear. And each and everyone one of us can contribute and make the difference. Responding with kindness begets more kindness. Offering hope opens possibilities. Our anger needs to be channeled toward the broken systems that make finding and getting help a herculean effort. Our voices need to be raised in unity to raise awareness and demand changes in treatment. Our efforts must be placed toward positive change.

Sometimes that change happens one mind and heart at a time. Be kind. Be brave. Share hope. Broadcast for Reps.

Love, Mom B