Reflections This Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental Health Awareness Month feels personal to me. It's a very important month ion the calendar.

This year I will tie it to my own journey after losing my dad in July last year.

That experience changed how I understand grief, silence, and the quiet ways people struggle. It also shaped the work I have been doing on World Pulse, where I speak about mental health, community, and the need for safe spaces for young people.

One thing I have learned is how easy it is for pain to go unnoticed. Many young people are dealing with heavy emotions but do not feel safe enough to talk about them. Sometimes it is fear of being judged. Other times it is the belief that no one will understand. So they keep everything inside. Over time, that silence can become overwhelming, affecting how they live, connect, and see themselves.

This is why community matters. Having even one person who listens without dismissing your feelings can make a difference. It does not always require solutions or advice. Sometimes people just need to be heard and to feel like their experiences are valid. In my conversations with others, I have seen how small acts of presence like just checking in, sitting with someone, or simply asking “are you okay?”, can open the door for honest sharing.

Through my initiative on World Pulse, I have tried to create that kind of space. It is not perfect, but it is real. I share my story, and in return, others feel a bit more comfortable sharing theirs. Some conversations happen on the platform, while others continue privately. Many people just want to know they are not alone.

Mental health struggles can affect quality of life in ways that are not always visible. When support is missing, it can lead to isolation and deep emotional pain. This is why awareness is important, but it should go beyond words. It should lead to action like checking in on people, encouraging open conversations, and making it normal to seek help.

Safe spaces are not a luxury but I believe they are necessary. These spaces can exist in families, friendships, schools, or online communities. What matters is that they are built on trust, respect, and openness. I have experienced community here on World Pulse since sharing my journey from people I don't know personally, and from different parts of the world. I remain grateful. Sharing about it through writing has also really helped me offload my grief.

As we mark this month, I think it is worth reflecting on how we show up for others. Not in big, dramatic ways, but in consistent, thoughtful ones. Listening more. Judging less and being present.

Healing is not something we do alone. It often begins when someone else is willing to sit with us in our truth. Silence might also cost us lives.

Suicide among young people is not a foreign statistic. It is happening in our communities. It is happening to people we know, people we sit next to, people we could have reached if we had known to look closer.

By creating safe, supportive spaces, we make it easier for people to speak and feel heard.