A Very Special Welcome to this Mental Health Blog

As I write my first post, I wonder to myself… does the world really need another blog?

A quick Google search shows that in the United States alone in 2019, there were more than 500 million blogs. The ever-expanding internet is jam-packed with content in every way. You want a niche? You can find it. Want classroom management tips? Low-budget fashion ideas? How about truckloads of cat pictures? The internet’s got you covered.

So… Why Start Another Blog?

As I write this post in the early days of 2021, I can only guess how many more blogs popped up over the last year. Writing from an American’s standpoint, I’ve seen our country roiled by COVID, job loss, isolation, social unrest, and conspiracy theories. I imagine many of those themes exist elsewhere in the world, too.

I’d been considering starting a mental health blog for a long time, but it took the events of 2020 to push me into action. As a licensed clinical social worker who does assessments, therapy, and other kinds of services for my community, I’ve seen firsthand the ways events—whether personal or societal—trickle into people’s lives. Injustice. Insecurity. Lack of control. Themes like these may have practical consequences—people may ask themselves, “am I safe?” “Can I afford rent?” There’s the emotional impact too, where people might find themselves unspeakably sad or fearful.

We’re talking about real threats to a person’s mental health.

This mental health blog is an attempt to reach as many people as possible. It is not a replacement for therapy or other forms of mental health treatment. Rather, this is my way of reaching out to anybody in emotional distress and saying “Hey, I see you. You’re not alone. The fact you are struggling doesn’t make you flawed. Here’s some information that may help, and let’s get you started on your journey toward mental wellness.”

My Mental Health Mission

On this little corner of the internet, I’ll use my education and experiences as a clinical social worker to write digestible posts covering a variety of topics, including:

This mental health blog is called Mind and Prose, so you may wonder about the second half of the name. One of my greatest passions is writing fiction. And, to the surprise of probably no one, I love including the challenges and triumphs of people living with mental illness in my stories. I will post about this from time to time, in hopes of showing the public fair and human representations of mental health. Stigma around psychiatric issues is a real thing, and I pledge to do what I can to fight it.

What To Expect

I hope to post once a week. My posts will get updated over time to stay current and have the most accurate information possible. If you have something you’d like to see me write about, please email me or send me a message on one of the social media pages. Or leave a comment! I’m always happy to hear from you.

Also: I might sometimes mention what’s happening in the United States to touch on big issues or trends, but these principles often describe a broader experience. I am American, so I’m most qualified to talk about psychiatric phenomenon in these United States. Still, there are significant cultural differences in mental health. I’ll do my best to honor those in my posts. If I misrepresent an experience or cultural phenomenon—or if I’m just plain missing it entirely—please feel free to let me know. I want this information to be as broadly helpful as possible.

As with all things in life, I expect this project to grow and evolve over time. I appreciate your being here, and hope to do what I can to provide a light in a world that can feel dark and uncertain at times. We’re all in this together.