If you aren’t aware, the month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I thought it would be appropriate to post this here since one of Marina’s most iconic roles was as a Mental Health professional; Deanna Troi. I love how Troi never judged or stigmatized anyone for being mentally ill. Look at Barclay. He had severe Social Anxiety Disorder and would often escape into a world of fantasy as a way to cope. Even when Troi found out about his Goddess of Empathy fantasy, Troi didn’t hate him or judge him. She saw Barclay as a kind and brilliant individual and got Barclay the help he needed.
I’ve struggled with Mental Illness for most of my life: Social Anxiety, Depressio, ADHD and anorexia as well as low self-esteem. That’s why I try to help others and spread positivity whenever I can. On that note, I have a challenge for you all. I want you to tell me something that makes you special or unique. I know it may be difficult to view yourself in a positive light, but everyone has at least one positive quality. I’ll go first:
“I am creative.”
Now it’s your turn. You’ve got this my lovelies!
Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a pivotal platform for destigmatizing mental health issues and promoting holistic well-being. Through assisted living facilities Long Beach advocacy, education, and community support, we empower individuals to prioritize mental health self-care, access resources, and seek help when needed. Together, we cultivate a culture of compassion, understanding, and resilience.
To Kayla Bell, MAN, you're hard to penetrate! Did you grasp anything that I said? Of course mental health is a serious issue. So serious, in fact, that I find the idea of pretending to care about it, in the light of our current situation fall on the floor hilarious. It has been since since the 2020 election. If people cared about mental health, that pathetic old man would be removed from office, out of compassion, if for no other reason. Nor would a shambling wreck like Fetterman have been elected to The Senate or allowed to remain there, once the depth of his problems became obvious. You say that I'm filled with "negativity". What I am "filled with" is rage and horror at what's being done to my country, which, as you said is currently one hell of a mess. This fact should have everyone worried because, when Uncle Sam gets the sniffles, the world comes down with double pneumonia. Look back a couple of years and tell me that Europe wasn't better off when America was in competent hands. I just hope that things hold together until after the next election, when we can get to work undoing the damage that continues to be inflicted. You say that mental health care is "a need," seemingly implying that we are obliged to fill that need. Many things are needs. So what? A need is either a right nor a claim on any other mans property, time or even concern. If a man chooses to give these things, fine. I make my share of charitable contributions, myself, VOLUNTARILY.
Just want to add that Trek helped my brother as well. He has a condition called CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder) which, in simple terms, is like dyslexia of the ear; he can hear sounds but they’re all jumbled. My mom and I showed Jonathan the Voyager episode where everyone is discounting Barclay because he is seen as less intelligent because of his disability; he has trouble getting his words out and articulating despite being a genius and being right with the whole Ferangi situation. Troi was the only one who truly listened to him and truly believed him. And she convinced everyone else to listen to what he had to say. In the end Barclay was a hero who helped to make the initial contact with Voyager and eventually bring them home. This episode helped show my brother that, despite his disability, he is still brilliant (which he is; in grade 6 he tested at a grade 11 level in mathematics) and he can achieve great things. So just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they’re less capable or less intelligent. With the right support and accommodations, they can achieve great things.
Just wanted to say that if any of you ever need to talk, I’m here. I’m not a mental health professional, so I can’t offer you that kind of help. But I can offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. I’m here for you guys however I can be.
The joy of creating helps me maintain my mental health.And my biggest muse is really Deanna Troi (aka Marina), but I'm just as happy to create new things not only in the world of Star Trek.For a long time I just collected pictures and fan art. But I always had a feeling of missing something, so one day I tried to do something, not only for myself but also for the fans.It's true that sometimes giving is better than receiving.There are people who are not capable of such creativity to create new images, but they like to see how their fantasy becomes a virtual reality, like a holodeck.
I can steal this one from you, heh, I can also say I am creative ;) And my friends say I'm a good listener.
My students say, "We like you because you're strict, but still like us." I can go with that!