What life events or challenges that you’ve experienced (could be minor, could be major) – whether you’ve experienced them directly or via someone close to you, have had any type of impact on your ability to feel the healthiest you can feel from a mental health standpoint?

The death of my uncle at a young age put my mental health through a true test. Having lost such an important part of my family at a young age made me question a lot of what I believed in

How did those life events/challenges listed above impact your ability to think, feel and function on an optimal level? If so, did this have any impact on work performance?

It made going through my daily routine much harder. I still remember the day I heard the news and the emotions my body and mind felt when driving to my aunt’s house to console her. That feeling stayed with me for a long time which made functioning normally a lot harder than ever.

How did those events impact you emotionally/morally? Did they influence the way you view mental health?

It changed the way I see life in general. I now like to live with much more appreciation and try and not to take those close to me for granted. The impact it had on me was something that will last forever. I could not just walk away from that event without changing my life. I was not ready to lose him and in life, you never know when you might get that devastating call. The only way to move forward is by taking advantage of the moments you have with those around you

What methods or practices have helped you become more mentally fit, optimizing the way you think, feel, function overall?

Praying a few times a week and taking walks outside without any social media or phones. Additionally, I made it a focus of mine to spend more quality time with my immediate and extended family. It has paid off big time as I feel like I have gotten to know them on such a deeper level than in the past. This has boosted my mental health and overall functionality

Why did you decide to share your story (whether previously or on this site for the first time)? Who were/are you hoping to help and how?

I think it is important to stand behind something like this. People need to know it is okay to not be okay. Everyone is going through something and the best way to move forward is through not being alone.

If you have told your story before, how did people react when you went public? If you have not previously shared your story, how do you think people will react?

I hope that people will react in a positive and progressive way. I hope I can inspire at least one person to share their story and hopefully release some of the stress they were going through alone!