Since adolescence, I have prided myself on my resilience, my willingness to serve others and my ability to achieve and persevere through any season of life. Growing up, I was captain of a competitive science team and a member of multiple other academic teams. While I was thriving academically, I struggled with my mental health; I dealt with panic attacks caused by a phobia of food and restaurants.

Most of us have heard the saying: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” This old-fashioned mantra reinforces a long-held, misguided belief: that being “unclean” equates to laziness and moral ineptitude. As a result, our culture often takes an unsympathetic approach to addressing issues like poverty and homelessness; far too many of us interpret these situations as a personal failing rather than a product of structural inequality.

Early warning signs often emerge at the onset or worsening of mental illness symptoms. Simply, put these warning signs are any thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that significantly impair day-to-day functioning — such as feeling excessively sad or low — and they may indicate you need help.

Understandably, if you are experiencing unusual thoughts and feelings, you may prefer to ignore them or expect them to pass, but ultimately, it is in your best interest to address them as soon as possible

Thanks to sensationalized media depictions of mental illness and stigma surrounding mental health conditions, people tend to have a limited view of what depression actually looks like.