Erica Meline, from the non-profit organization Minding Your Mind, spoke in the DeCicco Arts Center to freshmen and seniors about her mental health journey. This was on October 25th.
She talked about her anxiety, intrusive thoughts, eating disorders, and depression with such honesty and courage, which resonated with me. The ability to persevere through so much and live to tell the tale is an incredible feat, and one that highlights just how important taking care of one’s mental health truly is.
Erica Meline is a Changing Minds: Stories Over Stigma Speaker for Minding Your Mind, a “mental health nonprofit aimed at destigmatizing the conversation around mental health”, with speakers going into schools to share their experiences and encourage others to “feel comfortable sharing theirs and reaching out for help if needed”.
Erica’s inspiration to get involved with Minding Your Mind came from her passion for mental health awareness. She felt she had lost a sense of purpose during the lowest points of her depression and even during her recovery, and was unsure whether she would ever find that purpose again.
When she stumbled upon Minding Your Mind, she “felt that purpose return to me for the first time and almost immediately knew I wanted to be a part of carrying out their mission.”
Erica felt that the best part of presenting was connecting with students. She feels honored when they feel comfortable sharing their stories with her and hopes to encourage them to seek help and not feel alone in their struggles. “ I still can’t believe I have the privilege of getting to connect with so many people”, she said.
Speaking for Minding Your Mind is a “full-circle moment” for Erica. Many of her mental struggles are rooted in shame and hiding, and having the ability to be vulnerable allows her to weaken her negative emotions rather than make them stronger.
“Each presentation I get to show up, exactly as I am, and in doing so I get to invite every kid to do the same,” she said.
She suggested several ways students could handle mental health, for both teachers and students. Erica said there is an increased importance of mental health in modern education.
“When I was in high school, we received little to no education about mental health. Even if teachers did touch on it, it was mostly just a page or two from their textbooks,” she said. “I have been elated to walk into schools now that are offering entire units on mental health, as well as taking the time and resources to utilize organizations like Minding Your Mind.”
She also feels there is a long way to go. She encouraged early education of mental health in students, as it is just as important as physical health and is “pivotal in dismantling the stigma.” Overall, she is very optimistic about the progress continuing to be made regarding mental health in the school system.
Through her presentations, Erica has learned that “mental health doesn’t discriminate, and it can affect anyone at any time.” Her advice to the current generation of students is to push away the discomfort and reach out for help. It has the potential to save lives, and the more we talk about it, the easier it will get.
“I feel like we are getting more comfortable openly discussing mental health, and I think this younger generation has a lot to do with that,” she said. “I wish I had the strength some of these students had when I was their age.”
Through Minding Your Mind, Erica Meline has been able to use her platform to aid those going through similar experiences and encourage them to reach out for help. Her story showed me that it is possible to triumph through one’s mental struggles, and her words will inspire many to come.
