After experiencing unexpected burnout, how did you navigate that period, and what advice would you offer to others facing similar challenges?
I used to pride myself on truly practicing what I preached, which is one of the reasons I never grew SAD to be larger than what it is. One of my biggest missions was to not only give back to the community, but to do it from a space of rest and resilience.
That said, I did burn out. Just over a year ago, a few things collided…specifically around SAD, and I had to take a step back. I think navigating this period really taught me to let go of any ego and expectations I was holding onto that was actually holding me back.
I found myself truly leaning on one of my tried and true mottos: have standards, not expectations. This naturally leads to boundaries and compassion. At least, it did for me!
In your opinion, what are the most pressing barriers to accessing mental health resources in our community, and how can we collectively work toward dismantling those barriers?
In my opinion, lack of accessible resources, funding and awareness are the most pressing barriers. When a person is in distress–whether clinical or not–the ease of finding help is paramount. Of course, lack of education around mental health remains a massive barrier, which results in continued stigmas.
That said, I think the introduction of 2-1-1 is one big step in the right direction. And there are so many beautiful grassroots organizations and initiatives that continue to spring up in response to the needs of our communities. Filling the gaps and cracks between the support of loved ones on one end and clinical support on the other is what will combat these barriers.
How does The Sad Collective plan to re-engage with the community in 2025?
We will finally be officially launching our “new” website, which will offer a few new exciting additions:
- Access and visibility to our community programming.
- List of mental health resources.
- An advice column answered by a diverse group therapists called Agony Aunt.
- Applications to our annual SOFT (Sad’s Opportunity for Therapy) Grant, which offers $1000 to those who face systematic and financial barriers when seeking clinical support for their mental health.
We plan on coming back full-force in early 2025!
