Our organization seeks to spread awareness about the importance of mental health and the prevalence of mental illness. Here is why mental health is important to us!
"Mental health is important to me because the drastic effect it can have on a person's entire life is often overlooked. Both myself and many of my loved ones have struggled with mental issues, and time and time again I have observed that people feel like they're forced to carry the burden of all their problems on their own shoulders because they're scared of being misunderstood, judged, or a nuisance to other people. I want to somehow help in creating a world where people no longer feel that they have to shoulder that burden alone. To anyone struggling with their mental health right now, my message to you is that as hopeless as everything seems to be right now, there will come a day when you wake up and realize that the pain doesn't hurt as bad anymore. Recovery is always possible. Just please stick around to give that opportunity to yourself. You deserve it."
- Madeleine Salem, President, Founder
"Mental health is everything. Mental health affects everything in our lives. Mental disorders can be life threatening, so it’s important for people to know that they aren’t alone, that people just like them are going through the same thing. My message to anyone struggling with mental health issues is to always remember that you have someone to talk to. It’s important for you to tell your family, friends, or even adults that you trust, what’s going on so they can try to help you. And if you feel like you can’t talk to anyone, just remember that the Purple Hydrangea Project will always be there for you. <3"
- Isha Patel, Vice President, Volunteer Coordinator
"Mental health is important to me because I have seen how badly it can affect families and individuals. Mental health is important in general because many people are affected by mental illnesses and I hope to help educate people on ways to reach out for help. My message to anyone currently struggling is that help is available in many different ways. Talk to an adult or a professional, and do not give up because there is a solution to help yourself feel better.
- Kendall Smith, Secretary, Social Media Manager
"Mental health is important to me because mental illness has stolen countless happy moments and taken far too many lives. If the threat can be in any way reduced by spreading mental health awareness, then it should. It’s important in general because it’s the same as any other form of health. The brain should be tended to just as any other organ when it isn’t healthy. I would say to anyone currently struggling with their mental health that although you may adamantly believe no one could possibly understand your personal battle, there are many who do get it and who will listen. "
- Calli Howard, Creative Director
"Mental health is important to me because the mind is, in my opinion, the strongest component of the body. The mind controls all actions and feelings of a person which makes it extremely powerful. Thus the mentality of an individual is vital in the quality of any experience or event that will occur. My message to anyone struggling with their mental health, my message is that you are not alone. Focus on the simple joys in life!"
- Olivia Guerra, Volunteer Coordinator
"Mental health is important to me because it affects many of my loved ones. The more people learn about mental health, the more we can do to help those that truly need it. To anyone struggling with their mental health, my message is that you are not alone. No matter how you down you feel, there is always going to be someone there for you to turn to. It will get better. "
- Alyssa Tejeda, CFO, Marketing Director
"Mental health is important to me because I believe I could have had a healthier mental health state if I had help in my earlier days of youth. Mental Health is important to me because younger children are not taught to maintain their mental health and it is an important topic that needs to be addressed. We have to make sure we're physically and mentally okay before we throw other problems and situations on our shoulders. My message to anyone who is currently struggling with their mental health is to share their feelings and struggles with someone they trust because one can't save themselves from drowning unless someone pulls them from the water. Also, the better knowledge, familiarization, and acceptance one has with their mental health, the better state that their mental health will be in the future. "
- Lara Nichole Mercurio, Outreach Project Director
"Mental health is important to me because I have seen so many people in my life struggle with it. Mental illness is much more prevalent than everyone thinks! Everyone knows someone that struggles with mental health and even if someone does not personally struggle with some type of diagnosis, everyone will have some time in their life where they experience periods of sadness. To anyone currently struggling, I say seek support! Reach out to people and let them know that you are struggling. You will be able to find people who have similar experiences as you and realize that you are not alone!"
- Vanessa Nguyen, Fundraising Project Dir.
"Mental health is important to me because I've struggled with it personally for a good part of my life. Fortunately, I've been better lately than I have been in the past. Mental health and mental health education in general is very important because people need to know about something to understand and empathize with it. It is something that affects people daily and is seen as a 'silent killer' due to it's seemingly invisible effects on a person. To people currently struggling, I want to say that I agree that life may suck for the time-being, but we'll find a way to succeed and be happy. "
- Anmol Walvekar, Fundraising Project Dir.
"Mental health is important to me because if I wasn't aware of my conditions, I would pretty much not be alive right now, because I thought there was something wrong with me. The knowledge and acceptance of my mental health has kept me from doing something rash, for quite a while now. To people who are struggling, it's okay to struggle with your own mind. You're not crazy, you're not dramatic. You have needs, you have insecurities, you have all these things that someone needs to learn to remedy, and that someone is YOU. So, we're here to help you learn to love yourself, and we're here to tell you that you are important and loved."
- Jazmin Spillan, Creative Staff Member
"To me, mental health is just as important, if not more important, than physical health. This is because it defines one's lifestyle, as well as one's state of mind. Both of these dictate virtually every moment of one's life. To anyone struggling with their mental health, my message to you is: you are not alone! "
- Veebha Havaldar, Project Staff Member
"Mental health is important to me because it’s the one thing that everyone has to deal with but nobody physically sees (like physical health). But it’s something that should be very apparent in our lives. My message to anyone struggling would be 'The best thing about the rain is that it will go away eventually'. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day you’ll look up and realize that the birds are singing again."
- Alexis Raya, Creative Staff Member
Why is mental health important to you? What would be your message to someone struggling with their mental health? Let us know down in the comments for a chance to be featured in one of our blog posts!
Cover Image Source: Creative Market