The Language We Use Around Mental Health with Katherine Halsey

Have you ever stopped to thank your teachers from high school or other chapters of your life? What if you stayed connected to them and their lives, beyond the classroom? What more might you learn or know about them, their teachings, and yourself, as time goes on? Is it possible you are connected through mutual stories?

The power of sharing stories - the original way of teaching between people - is huge! Thanks to Facebook, I have been able to stay in touch with and get to know many of my teachers in various walks of life, and in this episode, we get to connect with my high school French teacher, Madame Halsey. In this last year she taught me something I had never quite understood, seen, or recognized in the way she shared it regarding the language we use around mental health. I still think this talk should be a Ted talk, and we unpack the content in this interview.

Katherine Halsey 's wisdom about life, highlighting her teaching style, and the language we use around mental illness flows through in this conversation.  I invited her to join me as a kindred lover of horses, mountains and dogs, but because I was also touched by a talk that she shared on Facebook regarding the way we talk about mental illness in our society, and often joke about it, even, when it is not funny as anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide or struggled with mental illness themselves knows all too well - it is serious. Then again, we all need a sense of humor - so we bravely unpack this paradox together.

Katherine candidly opens up about her personal experiences with grief and mental health. She shares her journey of losing a son to suicide and the subsequent grief journey that followed. After already dealing with such a heavy loss, Katherine was diagnosed with cancer and talked about the impact that had on her. 

A quote from Katherine: 'People who tell you it's time to stop grieving or stop being you - lose those folks! Give yourself permission to grieve and look for the way to find your way forward... take the time it takes and just trust the time."

This episode will leave you with a better understanding of all that you have in life, and all that you hope for, as well as a new perspective on your past.  I pray that this episode encourages more conversations around mental health and grief and helps to remove the stigma surrounding them. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out for help. Remember, it's okay not to be okay. 

Resources Mentioned:

Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted  - https://a.co/d/0vU0lwL

The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays by Esme Weijun Wang

The Center Cannot Hold, My Journey Through Madness by Elyn Saks



Find "Katherine Vickery Halsey" on Facebook if you want to connect, or email her:

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