Naked…Not Nudity
Expose yourself. Expose yourself to me. I’ll expose myself to you. Get Naked! Naked not nudity. I am talking about mental health. Get ya mind out of the pooper. I am talking about being open and honest. Laying it all out honestly, naked and unashamed. I can’t, can you imagine the courage it takes a person to run around naked, streaking? Ah, but that freedom and liberty. It must feel good. I want to be that way living with mental health. Free. Open. Honest. Letting it all hang out and fly free in the open air to all without a care. Here I am! I mean, I know what it’s like to be in the comfort of your own home and be free in your skivvies or less. Do you know what it is like being able to pee off your own front porch? I do. Total liberation.
Come Out of Hiding
It is time to come out of hiding and put our minds to work and come up with new different innovative ideas. Remember last time I said “ provoke & instigate”? I hope you are feeling inspired to “provoke & instigate” others to talk about mental health. For example, I host a Mental Health Open Mic. It provides a space for you to come and share your songs, music, art, stories, etc. as long as it pertains to the topic of Mental Health.
Mental Health Open Mic
The idea for this started back one night in 2018 when we were only months into The EHAMIOTAID Project. I was speaking in-between two punk bands somewhere in the USA. In the middle of me speaking this person came over to me and wanted the mic. They had been listening as I spoke and decided they wanted to share their story. Mental Health Open Mic was born. When we do the Mental Health Open Mic each time is different in its own unique way yet the same magic happens every single time. We have spectators and participators. Most always we have spectators that turn into participators. It all leaves me in awe. The laughter. The tears. The connection. The way we can all relate to each other with what is being said. It is like music. We can all come together and have a party on common ground.
Think Outside the Box
Sure, we have bands and artists that have a song or two about Mental Health, but that is not enough. What about a whole tour or event spotlighting mental health? I’d love see a mental health compilation cd. Harken back to where I was talking about mental health in between two punk bands. How often do you hear that? I have spoken at a 2 day punk festival both days. Speakers usually only speak one day at events. How often do you have a speaker at a punk anything? I love speaking at live music events. Sometimes people tell me it won’t work. To me it makes perfect logic. Mental health and music go hand in hand. To have someone address the suffocating stigma of mental health that is suffocating the life out of us is a good thing. Again, sure bands have songs about mental health and some even give 5 minutes and talk about it, but what about someone giving a 30 minute talk on the subject in the middle of a live show?
Closing Thoughts
Think outside the box. Not what is “normal”, but what can we do to help things get better, save lives. Sure there are foundations and charities set up in memory of those that have died from the suffocating stigma of mental health. What about the ones that are living? How about we throw them a party? How about we celebrate. Celebrate life…
***September is Suicide Prevention Month***
***October 6-12 is Mental Health Awareness Week***
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October 10, 2024
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