Mental Illness is Real!

My thoughts this day are with a family I never met. However, I did know their mother. 

The summer of 1980, I had the opportunity to go on a wilderness trip in Yellowstone. The group I was with was made up of about 30 college aged students from Rick's College in Rexburg, ID. During this trip, we were to backpack, canoe, horseback ride, and even climb a mountain. Most of the kids didn't know anyone else in the group, but we all became quite close during the several weeks we were together.

The big company split into smaller groups. Our group consisted of the only Southern people in company. Four of us were from Florida, and one from Georgia. Three of the Floridians were actually from the same area...two of us were close friends that went to the same high school, but I only had met these two girls just days earlier.

As the tents and supplies were handed out, most of the groups were issued tents that slept up to five called McKinley Tents. There were two of us left over, and so we were issued a small two man tent. Stacey and I were to share that tent for the next five weeks.

So, let me tell you about Stacey. I had only just met her, but I already felt a closeness to her. She was bubbly, vibrant, happy, and a little bit sassy...but in a good way. She was one of those people who everyone was drawn to, everyone wanted to be Stacey's friend. 

I turned 20 on that trip, one of the oldest in the group, and now that I am in my 60's, I still talk about that trip. There was a lot of personal growth during those short few weeks, and I am grateful for the time I was able to spend with everyone. Out of the 30, I have only been able to keep up with three, and even those three, I just "see" them on Facebook. But still, everyone in that group has a special place in my heart.

Especially Stacey. Since that trip, Stacey and I never have really communicated, but I still look up to her. I know that the giant personality she had as a college student has been put to the good for others. She was the type of person who would do anything, and give everything to help them out.

Sad things is, she had her own struggles. You would never know it though, and I, like so many others, had no clue until... Well...

You see, Stacey was suffering from mental illness. She had severe depression, and she lost her battle with it this past week. She always seemed so happy. But deep inside she was not...and that is so sad. Sad to think that no one could reach out to her. Not to say they didn't try, because they did. 

Mental illness is so misunderstood. When someone has cancer, we feel for them, it seems easier to reach out. Mental illness, though is much different. For one thing, like in Stacey's case, it is hidden, and so many of us go our merry way and the illness gets ignored. 

You never know how much someone is hurting. This is why it is so important to reach out to EVERYONE. Let other's know you truly care. You do not have to go around saying, "I love you" all the time. Most of the time it is by our actions. Even something just as little as noticing them, looking into their eyes and giving them a genuine smile.