EVERYONE IS MY TEACHER

Image Source: Emily Underworld (Unsplash)

"Everyone is my teacher. Some I seek. Some I subconsciously attract. Often, I learn simply by observing others. Some may be completely unaware that I'm learning from them, yet I bow deeply in gratitude."

-Eric Allen

Author's note - The other day, I came across the following thoughts I penned ten years ago in the aftermath of actor Robin Williams' death by suicide. Today, I share these thoughts about behavioral and mental health as a challenge to our national conversation. Since Robin's death, our world has made great strides in this arena; we must keep it moving forward.

"In this week's blog post, I used Robin Williams's recent death as a platform for a call to action based on an opinion shaped by over 22 years spent (as an observer of life) in Emergency Medical Services. You are free to agree or disagree with my commentary. Still, I feel that this is a golden opportunity for us all to have a national conversation about behavioral health, not just for a few weeks after his death but for all time.

As the days passed, we learned that Mr. Williams died from an apparent suicide (the medical examiner has not released an official cause of death). The mainstream media also informed us that he struggled for many years with both depression and addiction, for which he sought help several times. It is not for us to judge why, or even seek the exact reason, Mr. Williams took his own life. In the end, only he truly knows that. Maybe he left a note, and perhaps he didn't. What is more important is that a high-profile person has brought both the topics of suicide and depression into the national spotlight once again.

Americans spend billions annually on preventative maintenance for our homes and cars. We even devote enormous amounts of money to maintaining our bodies and spirits through gym memberships, yoga classes, swimming, running, and organized sports. Moreover, we have started adopting green living to improve our health. However, I feel we invest very little in the preventative maintenance of our behavioral health before it becomes a severe issue. Let me show you what I mean.

Let's say, for instance, that you are at your place of employment, and a co-worker starts to complain of sudden onset chest pain and difficulty breathing. They appear very sweaty, pale, and cool to the touch. I am sure most people would get involved and call 911 for an ambulance to get this person’s help quickly. Take that same person, an ordinarily upbeat and productive worker, and put them in different circumstances. Over several weeks, you notice that this person becomes socially withdrawn and angry at life, and their work performance has slipped. How many people honestly say they would feel comfortable approaching this person to ask them what is wrong? Would we be more apt to shy away out of fear that this person would lash out or tell us to mind our business? I leave it up to you to decide how you would work through this scenario.

Image Source: Chris Nagahama (Unsplash)

When it comes to behavioral health or imbalances of the mind, the subject gets swept under the rug or locked behind closed doors. This attitude is very prevalent in the fire service. To seek help in this arena is seen as a sign of weakness. Therefore, many firefighters would rather suffer in silence than admit they need help. I also find this to be true for our society as a whole. Suppose you struggle with a mood disorder such as depression or even if you feel mentally out of sorts. In that case, I implore you to seek a behavioral health specialist qualified to guide you on the road to mental well-being. Since we live in a high-stress society, it would not hurt to do a spring cleaning of the mind occasionally. Also, if you know someone who seems to be struggling with daily life, take the chance to say something. They will thank you for it later.

Robin Williams left us with tremendous work as both an actor and a comedian. His God-given talent for entertainment was a true gift. He was also very public about his battle with addiction and depression. His life and death can be our most significant lesson (gift). I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and hope that one day, they will help to inspire a dialogue about mental well-being and self-care strategies to that end. This legacy can last for the ages. Let us all learn from this sad historical moment and challenge the national conversation. We exist on this earth for only a moment; our mission should be to leave it a little better than we found it before we exit stage left. Life is one big lesson in learning, so do just that."

If you or someone you know is struggling, please refer or seek the assistance of a qualified mental health professional or peer support specialist. As a yoga mentor of mine always says, "Although this is a solo journey we cannot do it alone." Until next time -

Namaste,

Tim