Accessing mental health care and healing from illness is a long process, and guests on Greater Boston shared their lessons of hope and healing.
The Boston Globe's Kara Baskin described a time of crisis in which she found it difficult to get help despite going to therapy, calling the suicide hotline and even presenting in the emergency department.
"I was really miserable and somehow I was still managing to work and keep up appearances and this duality can be really hard because unlike a physical illness, it doesn't manifest outwardly, it's very private," Baskin said. She said she pushed through feelings of anxiety and panic for several months until the fog began to lift.
"Healing is a little bit more private and it can be quiet but you know, hopefully it really does happen and there is hope," Baskin said, urging others not to give up during their darkest times.
Samantha Joseph, chair of the board of directors of the Samaritans, which focuses on suicide prevention, also experienced a unique healing process when her aunt Gail Joseph died by suicide in 1999. Samantha described her as an incredible person who brought joy and laughter to the people around her.
Gail Joseph was a manager at NBC, where she worked with the cast of “Friends,” including David Schwimmer, who played Ross on the show. Joseph said Schwimmer played an important role in her healing process after she spoke with him at a conference, and he shared fond memories working with her aunt.
Samantha said supporting those who lost a loved one to suicide is crucial to push through the toughest times.
"It's in those critical moments of crisis to find the support that you need so that you can get past that," she said.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or use the Crisis Text Line by texting “Home” to 741741. More resources are available at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
Watch: “Slogging through and trying to keep up appearances”: Stories of grief, anxiety, and mental illness
