My journey with psychological well being advocacy started in my sophomore yr of highschool. I watched as my associates and classmates had been overwhelmed by limitless assignments, reminiscent of chemistry lab stories or historical past shows, frequently staying up previous 2 a.m. Nervousness took over a lot of our lives. We had been shedding our peace of thoughts, our sense of who we had been, and the straightforward pleasure of studying.
I wished to assist my technology handle our hectic lives and enhance our well-being. I began coding a time-management device with psychology-based algorithms that helped college students handle their busy schedules, presenting and distributing it to over 100 excessive colleges.
Nonetheless, I felt extra wanted to be performed. Many mother and father weren’t conscious of indicators of psychological well being points and regarded them simply as “regular stress.” College students likewise weren’t armed with instruments to evaluate their psychological well being and the way to deal with challenges.
I researched on-line and located Psychological Well being America and its strategic deal with next-generation prevention (Subsequent Gen). How would I let folks learn about MHA’s screening instruments and coping toolbox?
So I turned to the one factor that had all the time been my outlet for stress: music. I made a decision to host a charity recital to achieve out to the group to advocate for and empower teenagers with these instruments.
As a classical pianist, I usually performed items from composers like Debussy and Chopin, whose works are calming and meditative. On days earlier than tough exams, I’d sit down and play a calming track or be taught a brand new soothing piece. Working with my piano instructor, I organized a program not solely to calm the thoughts but in addition to inform a deeper story.
In my second fundraising live performance for MHA, our program began with Schumann’s well-known quintet to honor this nice composer, who suffered from bipolar dysfunction, and closed with Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto. After the failed debut of his first symphony, Rachmaninoff fell right into a deep despair and misplaced his drive to compose for 3 years. He recovered from despair with Dr. Nicholai Dahl’s therapy. Rachmaninoff composed Piano Concerto No. 2 and devoted it to Dr. Dahl for serving to him regain confidence in composition. Now it’s one in every of classical music’s most beloved items. I selected this piece to convey hope for these fighting psychological well being points: Restoration and renewed creativity are potential.
As I proceed this journey, I’m impressed to seek out new methods to merge my ardour for music with advocacy. Whether or not it is via organizing occasions, taking part in enjoyable music for sufferers, or just being a supportive buddy, I’m devoted to championing teen psychological well being. Along with MHA, I stay up for fostering a group the place psychological well-being is brazenly mentioned and nurtured.
A notice from Psychological Well being America:
James has raised over $10,000 for Psychological Well being America up to now, utilizing his unbelievable expertise and fervour to make an actual distinction for 1000’s. His story reminds us of our energy to show Hope into Assist for these fighting psychological well being challenges.
This giving season, we invite you to affix James in making an affect. By contributing to our year-end giving marketing campaign, MHA can proceed offering important public training toolkits, analysis & screening, advocacy, and public coverage initiatives that make a tangible distinction in folks’s lives.
