Mental health

How to Share Your Mental Health Story

Sharing your story is a wonderful way to connect with others and provide a first-person account of what it means to be on a journey of recovery. Here are four “P”s to keep in mind: 

Prepare: Know where you are in your healing process and make sure you are ready for the emotional impact of being open and vulnerable.

Purpose: Ask yourself, “what is my why?” Be sure you have a specific purpose for communicating, identify the audience you want to reach, and the goal you want to achieve.

Plan: Focus your discussion by identifying the specific hope-filled story arc you will convey. Include a high-level overview of your challenges, how you overcame them, helpful resources, and where you are now. 

Permission: If your story includes information about others, get their permission to discuss prior to sharing

       

      Source: Mental Health First Aid