We need to talk about mental health
In the past two weeks American fashion designer Kate Spade and world traveler and chef Anthony Bourdain committed suicide. As people scramble for answers and try to understand why such seemingly happy people would choose to end their lives, a deeper overwhelming theme has once again bubbled to the surface, the state of mental health care around the world. Mental health unfortunately is still an extremely touchy subject. I have written extensively about my own battles with depression, anxiety and suicide attempts . I have been open about my mother's battle with bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder and her eventual suicide. People consider talking about mental issues to either be brave or stupid. Dealing with mental health gets you labeled as "crazy." Suicide is seen as a last selfish act. These labels keep many people from being open about their struggles with emotional and mental health. More than 300 million people suffer from depression world wide. It is...