May is more than just another month on the calendar for me!
It's a time of reflection, advocacy, and a stark reminder of a journey that spans over five decades. A journey that has been intertwined with the cause of mental health awareness.
There was a time when mental health wasn't just a cause I championed, it was my identity, my silent struggle, my invisible battle. I was living on a precipice, a walking time bomb, oblivious to the ticking within. This is my story, a narrative of resilience and survival, of confronting abuse, homelessness, and the pressures of teen pregnancy and forced abortion.
I share my experiences not to dwell on the past, but to illuminate the path for others who might be walking in the shoes I once wore. To let them know that they are not alone, that hope exists, and that we, at CHW Liberation Consulting, are here to help." I am available to speak at your Community Centers, community-based Organizations, and Mental Health Platforms, the most important thing we can do for those who want to help us black and brown communities is to build trust, I still do not trust those who do not look like me, it is sad but true, so when we create our programs for community health work we keep that in mind and we talk about it. It is important and telehealth does not work for people like us, look at the stats it will tell you. It is all about the numbers but for CHW Liberation Consulting it is not about the quantity it is about the quality of our training/programs and outreach.
We recognize that we who are black and brown have been going through mental health issues all our lives, it is NOW, TODAY since the other side is affected in overwhelming numbers due to a broken, abused, privileged healthcare system awakened by the cause and effects of those cherished and greedy moments, we now see on the streets who got what and at what cost! They now travel to our neighborhoods a place where they avoided all their lives, now they look bad and cannot even go back to their hoods, we see them all over the place. I digress!!!
However, there is now a mental health platform where millions of dollars are being available and resources are still lacking in our communities, such a shame, but we are here to help one another we are here to let each other know that our communities are equally important and we have survived many storms, so employ us as mentors, peers, and speakers so we can teach, train and support your programs that and are surrounded by people like us. Enough is Enough!
We welcome your feedback, let's have a conversation.
Good Read! My story "A Girl's Cry in the Dark"
Link: A Girl's Cry In The Dark: PAIN Is Just A 4-Letter Word: Harris, Chantay: 9781626766457: Amazon.com: Books
Need someone to talk to reach out to us.
There are several mental health assistance programs available, especially for those in need. Here are a few: Remember, it’s important to reach out when you need help. These resources are here to support you. If you’re in a life-threatening situation, always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.        Â
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: This is a 24/7 free and confidential treatment referral and information service for individuals facing mental and substance use disorders.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: This is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support line for people in distress.
Veterans Crisis Line: This service connects veterans with qualified responders from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Disaster Distress Helpline: This provides immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disasters.
FindTreatment.gov: This is a confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories.
Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services: This is a local service in Virginia that provides mental health services.
Virginia Treatment Center For Children: This center provides mental health services for children.
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