IfYoureReadingThis Collaboration
Mental health has long been a stigmatized topic in our society, with many of us taught to bury our feelings and see reaching out as a sign of failure. For me, this silence was deafening. Amidst feelings of anxiety, I would look around and think, “no one else looks like they are feeling this way, so what is wrong with me?” The lack of conversation was isolating and forced me to overanalyze my feelings. Eventually, I built up enough courage to talk to a close friend about how I felt. Upon taking this step, I learned that not only did my friend also struggle with her anxiety, but she too felt alone in her mental health journey. Sharing our experiences was comforting and empowering for the both of us.
That experience taught me that people who care about you want to be there for you, no matter the circumstance. The relief I felt from sharing my story inspired me to create an opportunity for everyone to do the same. For this reason, I decided to start a chapter of IfYoureReadingThis at the University of Michigan.
IfYoureReadingThis is a platform for sharing your story, connecting with others, and building a better U of M community. Our authors use their letters not only to challenge all of us to be more vulnerable but also to prove that honestly discussing one’s struggles is rewarding for both the author and our community of readers.
Our mission is to start a conversation around mental health in Ann Arbor and provide supportive resources for individuals while correcting the misconception that mental health issues should be handled alone. As an author, you have the opportunity to give your friends and family a closer look at who you are. Additionally, your words have the ability to touch someone you may never meet who is going through their struggles. As readers, we can see that even when we’re struggling, we don’t have to struggle alone. Furthermore, our letters and the examples set by our authors teach us to be accepting of our feelings and realize that they are also valid.
Unlike other afflictions, mental health struggles are invisible to the eye. While a broken bone or a bruise is visually evident, anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles can easily go unrecognized by even our closest peers. However, in both instances, ignoring or not seeking help are not answers to healing a broken bone or addressing your anxiety. Struggles with mental health often need to be spoken aloud to be recognized. For that reason, a vital aspect of the IfYoureReadingThis platform is the author’s photo shared alongside each letter. The faces of our authors put a face to mental health and emphasize that our struggles come in many forms. Our photos also offer a visual demonstration of the community of people who relate to how we feel and are there to support us if we reach out.
Above all, my hope is that this resource makes a difference in even one person’s life. Whether that is someone recognizing that they are not alone in their emotions or that they can be there for
a friend they didn’t know was grappling with an invisible struggle. Either way, IfYoureReadingThis is a place where all are welcome for all that they are.